All Polices

Consent Protocol

The purpose of this protocol is to set out the practice’s approach to consent and the way in
which the principles of consent will be put into practice. Where possible, a clinician must be satisfied that a patient understands and consents to a proposed treatment, immunisations or investigation.

Implied Consent
Implied consent will be assumed for many routine physical contacts with
patients. Where implied consent is to be assumed by the clinician, in all cases, the following will apply: an explanation will be given to the patient about what he/she is about to do and why. In all cases where the patient is under 18 years of age, a verbal confirmation of consent will be obtained and briefly entered into the medical record. Where there is a significant risk to the patient an ‘Expressed Consent’ will be obtained in all cases (see below).

Expressed Consent
Expressed consent (written or verbal) will be obtained for any procedure that carries a risk that the patient is likely to consider a substantial risk. A note will be made in the medical record detailing the discussion about the consent and the risks. A consent form may be used for the patient to express consent (see below).

Obtaining Consent
Consent (implied or expressed) will be obtained prior to the procedure. The clinician will ensure that the patient is competent to provide a consent (16 years or over) or has ‘Gillick Competence’ if under 16 years (has ‘sufficient understanding and maturity to enable
them to understand fully what is proposed’). For children under 16 years, someone with parental responsibility should give consent on the child’s behalf by signing accordingly on the consent form.

Confidentiality

All information from every contact you have with the practice is covered under the Data

Protection Act 1998 and includes both electronic and paper records and face to face and
telephone conversations. All staff within the practice will have access to your records to do their job and all are bound by the same rules of confidentiality. Anyone with access to your record is properly trained in confidentiality issues and is governed by both a legal and contractual duty to keep your details private.

Under 16

The duty of confidentiality owed to a person under 16 is as great as the duty owed to any other person. Young people aged under 16 years can choose to see health professionals without informing their parents or carers. If a GP considers that the young person is competent to make decisions about their health, then the GP can give advice, prescribe and treat the young person without seeking further consent. However, in terms of good practice, health professionals will encourage young people to discuss issues with a parent or carer.

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Clinical Governance

Clinical governance describes the structures, processes and culture needed to ensure that healthcare organisations – and all individuals within them – can assure the quality of the care they provide and are continuously seeking to improve it. The main components of clinical governance include: risk management, clinical audit, education training and CPD, evidence-based care, patient and carer involvement and staffing and management. If you would like further details on our clinical governance policy, please contact the practice manager.

Chaperones

You are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure and this would be a specially trained member of staff. If you would like the practice to provide a chaperone, please try to request this in advance so that arrangements can be made and avoid the need for the appointment to be rescheduled. Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations. This impartial observer will be a practice nurse or health care assistant who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone.