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Information » Health » Health Services » Hospitals

• NHS (National Health Service) hospital treatment is free in the UK
  
• Unless it is an emergency and you need to be treated in the Accident & Emergency department, you cannot walk into a hospital for treatment. You will usually be referred by a doctor
  
• Going to hospital can be a scary experience but the doctors and nurses are there to help you so don’t be afraid to talk to them and share any concerns
  
• There are some things you might want to think about taking with you if you are going into hospital, such as:
  
  • Contact details of friends and family
    
  • Any regular medicines
    
  • Night wear
    
  • Under wear
    
  • Toiletries
    
  • Books, magazines or puzzles
    
  • Pen and paper
    
  • Food or snacks (check with your doctor what you can and cannot eat)
    
• As a hospital patient, you have certain rights including:
  
  • Confidentiality
    
  • Refusing to be treated by medical students
    
  • Seeing your medical notes
    
  • Having a second opinion
    
  • Being referred to a specialist
    
  • Refusing to take part in research trials
    
  • Being informed about your health and all treatment options
    
  • Having a friend or relative with you
    
  • Having an interpreter or signer to help you

For a copy of the Patients’ Charter for Wales, write to:
The Health Department
National Assembly for Wales
Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF1 3NQ
029 20 825 111