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Rights and Responsibilities
Your Rights
Whenever you seek medical advice or treatment you can expect all health workers (including doctors) to:
- Take you seriously and treat you in a respectful manner
- Provide clear information and explain what is happening in words that you understand
- Involve you in any decisions made about your care and any plans for treatment including stopping care or changing treatment
- Include a friend or family member during your appointments, if that's what you want
- Give you the chance to ask questions about things that are important to you
- Respect your privacy and confidentiality
(There are legal limits to this to do with your safety or the safety of others. Ask your doctor/ health workers what these limits are.)
- Let you know how to look at your medical records and make sense of it
- Let you know how to make a complaint
Responsibilities
Health workers in adult facilities will expect you to take more responsibility for yourself. They will expect that you:
- Understand your condition and its treatment and are able to explain this to health workers when required
- Keep a copy of your health record
- Know the warning signs that mean you need urgent medical help
- Follow treatment plans given to you by your health workers that you have agreed to
- Show up to appointments on time
- Know how to get referrals or prescriptions when required
- Know how to order and take care of special equipment you might need
- Understand how Medicare and your medical insurance work
Differences between Child and Adult Health Services
There are many differences between child and adult health care settings. With more freedom and control comes some requirements such as; being able to understand and explain your condition and its symptoms, speaking directly to doctors about any concerns or misunderstandings you have and seeking out advice when you need it. You should know in advance what to expect in the adult service. To find out more about the differences in the systems read this fact sheet.
Making Complains
I've got a Complaint!
If you are unhappy about the way you are treated by any health care worker (including doctors) there are steps that you can take to make a complaint. It is always a good to talk first with the person/people involved. Tell them what you experienced and what you want done about it. If you don't get anywhere, or need some extra help to do this, contact the NSW Ombudsman. The Youth Liaison Officer can help you to work out what you want done about it. To find out more about making complaints and communicating click on fact sheets For help in making a complaint contact the:
Youth Liaison Officer
NSW Ombudsman
Ph: (02) 9286 1000 or 1800 451 524
Financial issues in the Adult Medical World
Medicare
You will probably find that you have been covered by your parent's Medicare card. If you are over the age of 15 you are entitled to have your own Medicare card. It may be more convenient and give you more independence if you have your own card.
To enrol for a new card for yourself:
- Gather up your identification (birth certificate, passport, bank account details)
Attend a Medicare office (with your identification)
- Complete a Medicare copy/transfer application form. This form is available from the HIC (Health Insurance Commission) website or Medicare offices. (You may want to have this already completed before you go into the Medicare office. If your parents are wishing to enrol on your behalf, both you and your parents need to bcomplete the form.)
When you are going for a check up or treatment it is important that you take your Medicare card with you. Medicare covers the cost of:
- All public hospital clinics
- Treatment as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital
- All or part of the costs of treatment by practitioners such as doctors, including
specialists, participating optometrists or dentists (specified services only).
To find out more about Medicare and the charging of fees, visit the Health Commission
Website www.hic.gov.au or phone 132 011
Bulk Billing
Bulk billing is when the government pays your doctor for your medical. This means you do not have to pay for your appointment. You just have to sign. Many doctors will bulk bill but they do not have to! Before you make an appointment with a doctor ask if they bulk bill. If they don't, ask them to explain the costs and how much you can get back from Medicare.
Private Health Insurance
You do not have to have private insurance - it is your choice. There are many private health insurance companies. If you are thinking of taking out private health insurance have a look at what different insurance companies offer and what best suits your needs and budget. You may find that your parents have you covered with private health insurance. Ask them if this will be transferred to you as an adult. All private health insurance requires a contribution on a monthly or yearly basis by you. You need to allow for this when budgeting your money. You do not need to have private health insurance to see a doctor in private practice. If you do have private insurance it does not allow you to claim any refund for visits to doctors in private practice. Private health insurance will only allow you to get a refund for visits your doctor makes to you if you are admitted to hospital.
Who Pays?
During your childhood your parents paid for any medical costs that were not covered by Medicare. In fact most of your medical care was paid for by Medicare and appeared to be free. As an adult you need to know about the costs of medical care.
To find out more about Medicare and health insurance there is a PDF you can download here.
To find out more about Medicare and the charging of fees, visit the Health Commission Website or phone 132 011
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Most medicines available on prescription are subsidised by the government under the PBS. This means that the government helps pay for the cost of these medicines so you are charged less.
To be eligible to receive medicines under the PBS you need to provide your pharmacist with your Medicare card when you have your prescription filled.
To find out more about PBS click on fact sheet
To find out more about the costs of health care and medication:
- Talk with your medical team
- Visit the Health Insurance Commission website: www.hic.gov.au
- Talk with your pharmacist
- Visit a Medicare Office or phone them on 132 011
- Contact the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 132 290
Make a move! Checklist
To make life a little easier, some people find having a list of 'things' to be achieved very helpful. It can be very satisfying to tick off what you have already achieved and jog your memory of what still needs to be done. Using this idea a downloadable checklist has been developed for you to use as you start to think about, and make the move to, adult health services. The more you know the better prepared you will be to make the move when the time comes.
My Medical History
Your past can help predict the future and helps your doctor make decisions about the best option to take. It also helps to prevent doubling up on things that have already been done.
Most young people need to ask their parents about their medical history, especially things that happened when they were very young. Download this PDF to use as a guide when putting together medical history.
Hints for Finding the Right Doctor for You
Everyone is different. Some people you 'click with', some you don't. It is the same with doctors and other health care workers. You need to find the right one for you. In this PDF we have listed a few ideas to help you know what to look for.
Role of the Case Manager in Transition
Some young people who have a chronic illness/disability have a case manager at some stage during their treatment. This person helps you and your family to work out your health care goals and what services you need to reach them. They are available in the children's and adult health systems.
Government Assistance
Decision making assistance - Financial and medical
When you are 18 years old you are legally able to control your own affairs. But sometimes people need help to make decisions about how they will live or how to arrange their financial affairs. If this is the case you can get help from others to make these decisions on your behalf. These fact sheets explain the role of decision makers such as a person responsible, a guardian, money managers and financial managers.
Guardians can be a family member, a friend or an official called the Public Guardian.
For more information about the NSW Guardianship Tribunal Telephone:
1800 463 928
Or visit their website: www.gt.nsw.gov.au
Centrelink
Centrelink is a Federal Government organisation that provides many services including employment and financial assistance.
There are many different types of assistance including disability payments, mobility allowances, youth allowances and help with paying rent. There are strict criteria that you need to meet to be eligible for payments.
You may be surprised by what you are eligible to receive.
Visit Centrelink at http://www.centrelink.gov.au/
Education, Training and Employment
Some people find that when it comes time to leave school they have no idea of what they want to do with their life. There are also people who know exactly what they want to do, but they may not know how to go about it. There are many options available but it could take you a while to work out what you want to do in relation to further education, training or work.
For more information contact:
NSW TAFE
website: www.tafensw.edu.au
The Disabilities Unit: (02) 9244 5085
CRS Australia
website: www.crsaustralia.gov.au
Telephone: 1800 624 824
Job Network
Website: www.workplace.gov.au
Telephone: 13 62 68
Skills for The Future
Website: www.australia.gov.au/skillsforthefuture
Telephone: 13 38 73
Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP)
The PADP is a NSW Government program for people with disabilities. It is set up to assist both children and adults with permanent or long-term disabilities by providing appropriate equipment, aids and appliances.
Once you reach 16 years old there are financial criteria that have to be met to qualify for assistance.
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC)
The DADHC is the NSW Government department responsible for assisting people with a disability to participate in community life and improve their quality of life. The DADHC provides many services for people with a disability. Some of these are respite care, accommodation support, day programs, therapies and vacation care. These services are often funded by DADHC but may be provided by local services.
This web page is managed and authorised by Greater Metropolitan Clinical Taskforce. Last updated: 16 March, 2009
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