Care and treatment: your rights and choices
Our ‘Care and treatment: your rights and choices’ information explains your rights and choices with regard to your epilepsy care and treatment.
‘Rights’ are in the NHS Constitution and the Handbook to the NHS Constitution, and you are entitled to them by law. Where we say ‘you should’, you may not have a legal right, but these are recommendations made in the NICE* (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guideline on epilepsy.
Terms used
Primary care – this means health services such as the GP or pharmacy. This is ‘primary care’ because it is usually the first place you will go to for help with anything medical.
Secondary care/ secondary services – this covers health services such as local hospitals and clinics, where you would see someone more specialised than the GP or pharmacist, such as a neurologist. This is ‘secondary care’ because you usually have to be referred by your GP. It also includes A&E departments.
Tertiary care/ tertiary services – this refers to specialist hospitals or units that focus on specific care for different conditions. For example, if someone is being considered for epilepsy surgery, they might be seen in tertiary care. You have to be referred to tertiary care from either primary or secondary care.
Where we refer to the NHS Constitution, this is not specific to your epilepsy, but applies to everyone. Where we refer to the NICE clinical guideline on epilepsy, this is specific to your epilepsy and its management.
Notes
This information is based on the NHS Constitution, The Handbook to the NHS Constitution, the NICE* clinical guideline on epilepsy and the Equality Act 2010 .
* NICE is the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Find out more about the sources for Care and treatment: your rights choices - the documents and organisations that have provided much of the basis for this information.
Information reviewed March 2023
Early access to specialist diagnosis and care
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says 'After a first seizure, or a seizure after a period of being seizure free, you should see a specialist within two weeks. You have a right to be treated by appropriately qualified and experienced staff.'
Referral to tertiary care
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘If your epilepsy is difficult to diagnose or manage, you should be referred to a tertiary service for specialist care and treatment'.
Appropriate treatment and consistent medication
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You have a right to access NHS services and to treatment options that are appropriate for you'.
Access to your health records
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You have a right to access your own health records.’
Freedom from discrimination
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You have a right to be treated with dignity and respect and to not be discriminated against'.
The right to complain
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You have a right to complain about NHS services or treatment'.
Your responsibilities
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You have responsibilities as well as rights'.
Sources for Care and treatment: your rights and choices
Sources used to develop Care and treatment: your rights and choices.
Epilepsy Care Pathway
A clear care pathway to show you what to do from the first seizure to referrals and reviews.
NHS dental care and free prescriptions
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You have a right to access NHS dental care' and 'you are entitled to free prescriptions'.
Involvement in your own healthcare
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You have a right to be involved in your health and care and to be given enough information to make informed decisions. Women and girls with epilepsy should be given information and support that is tailored to their needs’.
Choice of care and getting a second opinion
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You have a right to choose who provides your care.'
Your care plan/review
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: ‘You should have a care plan agreed with your healthcare professionals, which should include details of your care and support. You should also be able to have reviews of your epilepsy'.
Health and social care assessment/benefits
Care and treatment: your rights and choices says: "You, and your carer if you have one, are entitled to ask for a health and social care assessment. You may both be entitled to welfare benefits."