Did you know that as a person living in England you have a number of rights that you re entitled to?

It is important that you understand these rights if you are a person living with atopic dermatitis (also known as atopic eczema)

These rights have been set out by NHS, alongside a number of pledges that it has committed to achieve as part of the NHS Constitution. This constitution highlights the importance of the patient voice in decisions about their care and provide detail on how you can have your say. 

It also outlines what patients the public and staff can expect from the National Health Service in England. 

Please see below the document that summarises what you should expect from your interaction with the NHS as a person. Living with atopic dermatitis.

• Make informed choices about where you receive your care.i This includes the right to choose your GP, unless there are reasonable grounds for refusal. You also have the right to choose the organisation or team that provides your NHS care when you are referred for your first outpatient appointment with a service led by a consultant or by a named healthcare professional.ii 
• What this might mean for you: Choosing a GP with a special interest in dermatology if one is available and ensuring you are happy with the team or organisation you are referred to. 
• Be given information about the tests and treatment options available to adults with atopic dermatitis, what they involve and their risks and benefits. 
• What this might mean for you: Having meaningful conversations with your GP or dermatologist about your atopic dermatitis and being given information about treatments and services available to you to help you make an informed decision on your care. 
• Request a second opinion, either from a specialist or another GP.
  What this might mean for you: If you do not think your condition is being managed appropriately or you have not been given a diagnosis for your symptoms, you can request another opinion from another GP or a specialist. 
• Wait no longer than 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment.iii Your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) must try to offer you a range of suitable alternative treatment providers if this is not possible. 
• What this might mean for you: It may be appropriate for you to be referred to a specialist dermatologist, for example if your condition is severe or if you are not responding to treatment. 
• Receive care and treatment that is appropriate for you, meets your needs and reflects your preferences. 
• What this might mean for you: 
• Talking to your healthcare professional about your options, including the treatment and services that are clinically appropriate for you. 

Taking into account your views on what is important to you in terms of your treatment, for example enabling you to stay in employment or return to work. How your condition affects your mental health and wellbeing should also be considered. 

• Be involved in planning and making decisions about the care and treatment of your atopic dermatitis, including having the chance to self-manage if appropriate. 
• What this might mean for you: Being provided with information on the full range of services and treatment options available to you to enable you to make decisions on your care with your healthcare professional based on your preferences and what is important to you. 
• Receive drugs and treatments that have been recommended for use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for adults with atopic dermatitis, if your doctor says they are clinically appropriate for you. 
• What this might mean for you: You should not be refused access to any treatment that has been recommended by NICE if your doctor says that it is appropriate for you. 
• Provide feedback about the treatment of care you received on the NHS. 
• What this might mean for you: If you are not satisfied with the care you have received or feel improvements could be made, you are entitled to provide feedback. 

Date of preparation: January 2019 Job Bag: SAGB.SA.18.12.1888