A "charter of rights" for people with disabilities in Scotland has been launched.

The charter, which is the first of its kind north of the border, was drawn up by Rehab Scotland.

The voluntary organisation said the document details what every disabled patient should expect from the health service, and their rights to training and employment.

It is hoped that spelling out those rights will help them to be upheld.

'Self-respect'

Rehab Scotland said the charter was developed after consultation with all its service users across the country over the last 12 months.

Alasdair Gordon, a tutor at the charity's brain injury service in Aberdeen, believes patients will be helped to develop more self-respect.

He said: "The charter has the rights of the clients and it has the responsibilities of the clients. In other words, they are not just merely passive individuals who come here to get whatever we care to throw at them.

"They themselves have important rights and they themselves have the responsibilities that go with these rights. I think it's a very positive step forward."

Service user George Harris said that more must be done to help people with disabilities as a result of brain injuries.

'Shoved away'

He was left with serious facial and brain injuries after he slipped and fell in the garden.

Mr Harris said: "More help, also more recognition. It's something that's not reached the forefront yet.

"You see all the cancer units and all that, but the brain injury units are shoved away to the side.

"It's not really a recognised thing because you don't see a brain injury. Until it happens to yourself you don't think it exists and that's a problem."