The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), with a cross-sector working group including the NMC, GPhC, GOC, GOsC, the Patient Safety Commissioner, the Patients Association and the Council of Deans for Health, has today launched a set of consent principles aimed at improving informed decision-making and reducing patient and service user harm.
The work is also supported by other regulators including the GMC, GDC and GCC.
Developed with a cross-sector working group, these principles respond to ongoing patient safety concerns relating to consent and seek to support calls for a ‘patient-controlled system’ as set out in the NHS 10-Year 'Fit for the Future' Plan for England, as well as supporting the work being done on this issue across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
View the five consent principles
Christine Elliott, Chair of the HCPC, said:
‘'Consent is the bedrock of patient safety, and it should never be seen as just a signature or a tick box exercise. By placing patients at the heart of decision-making, we build safer care, improve the quality of patients’ experience, and reduce the risk of harm.
‘'While we recognise in life-threatening situations informed consent cannot always be secured, there are too many examples where consent could have been obtained, but has not, and have been put at risk.
‘'We must continue to raise awareness of what informed consent means with patients, service users, and the public, and encourage continual conversations. That way everyone can be clear what to expect from their care and be able to make the right choices for them.
‘'The power of these principles lies in their having been co-produced with leading representatives of patients and in collaboration with other healthcare regulators, so we have a united approach on expected standards of conduct.'’
Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner for England, said:
‘'When as patients, we choose to follow a course of treatment, we need to know the Benefits, the Risks, the Alternatives and what might happen if we do Nothing. This is known as BRAN and is the starting point of a shared decision-making conversation which leads to consent. Understanding the risks needs to be personal, establishing what matters to every individual patient and seeing patients as equal partners in their care.
‘'I’ve heard from many patients who sadly have not always had these important conversations and as a result have come to harm. This is why I welcome the new Principles of Consent which will apply to a broad range of healthcare professionals, making it easier for patients to get the right information they need to make informed decisions about their care. Following these principles every time will act as a guide for professionals to work in partnership with patients and help to keep their patients safe.'’
