Read Patient Concern's Survival Guides
and take charge of your own health.

These leaflets aim to give you a realistic guide to your rights, point out some of the pitfalls in health care and give you all the tips you need to hold your own as a patient.

We produce them in desk top publishing format so that they can be updated constantly. Changes in the health service happen too often for printed leaflets to keep up.

Please send a stamped addressed envelope for a single leaflet. For several leaflets, send a loose stamp for each - no envelope needed.

Click on any subject for more information:
Surgery | Doctors | Living Wills | Consent | Complaints revised| Anaesthesia |
Medicine on the Net | Lasting Power of Attorney | Post mortems

 
 
 
   
   
   
 
   

How to survive surgery
Your rights on accepting or refusing treatment. What you should find on the consent form. What to expect before and after an operation, preparing for discharge...and much more.
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    How to survive doctors
Getting what you want from a consultation.What you need to know about tests. Vital dos and dont's on medication. Worries on the ward, clinical trials ...and much more.
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How to make a Living Will
From October 2007, Living Wills have official legal status for the first time. If you have already made one it may need updating to conform with the new law. If you haven't, this is a good time to think of doing so, to let doctors and relatives know what medical treatments you would refuse or accept if a time comes when can't you make your wishes known. Pros and cons of Living Wills, how to draw one up, what you can and can't include... and much more.
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Consent - what you need to know
What is informed consent: when can you give it and when should you give it? Who judges your 'best interests' - you or your doctor? Consent for under-18s, treatment in an emergency, do not resuscitate notices ...and much more.
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How to survive the complaints procedure
The complaints system in England changed yet again on April 1, 2009. Our newly revised leaflet is now available. Find your way around the complaints procedure: what it can and can't do for you. How to make your complaint count. What options are available if you are not satisfied ...and much more.
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How to survive medicine on the net
How to find a good site and avoid quackery. Using medical gateways. A selection of reliable sites where you can find out about an illness, check on the latest health stories in the news, find a support group...and much more
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How to survive anaesthesia
Types of anaesthetics, do you get a choice? What the anaesthetist needs to ask you - and what you need to ask the anaesthetist. Sorting out options for pain relief. Helping your child through anaesthetic ... and much more
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How to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (health and welfare)
From October 2007 you can make a lasting Power of Attorney, so that someone you trust can take decisions for you on health and personal welfare if you are no longer able to do so. How to do it, what powers to give your attorney, what they can and can't do ...and much more.
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All you need to know about post mortems
The difference between coroners' and hospital post mortems, what a post mortem involves, what rights you have, donating organs for research ...and much more.
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