Trust Board Febuary 2010 - Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals

SWBTB (2/10) 037 (a)
• Has the ability to communicate satisfactorily to patients in a way that is understood,
• Has the ability to satisfy the patient’s concerns so that he/she is able to understand what is
being proposed and asked to consent to.
• Is aware that the consent process is dynamic and that consent, once given, can be withdrawn
or become potentially invalid due to a change in circumstances (ie medical condition
changes)
• Provides the patient with adequate written information and other support (ie access to
interpreters, IMCAs) so that the decision made is informed.
The Consultant must agree the criteria for the type of patient which the health care professional with
responsibility for delegated consent may actually take consent from. The Health Care Professional
should not take delegated consent from patients where there is an issue regarding their capacity to
consent, e.g. learning disability, dementia.
The Consultant must ensure that they complete an approval record for each approved procedure for
any medical trainees for whom they are Educational Supervisors and for any other healthcare
professionals that they are asked to train. (see Appendix G2)
The Consultant is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely and complete information relating to
consent is documented in the patient record.
The Consultant has a duty to ensure each patient consenting to treatment has capacity to consent.
Assessment of Capacity to consent is part of that duty
5.3 Clinical Director
The Clinical Director is responsible for ensuring Trust approved systems for consent are operational
and working effectively within the directorate.
Where consent is delegated the Clinical Director must ensure that:
• a list of applicable procedures is maintained within the directorate
• details provided to the Education Centres and Clinical Effectiveness
• training is carried out promptly and escalated incidents are managed promptly.
The Clinical Director must have an overview of what procedures have been delegated and ensure
annual audits of consent are undertaken and reported.
5.4 Divisional Director
In the event that the Clinical Director is the Educational Supervisor of a medical trainee and fails to
undertake delegated consent training promptly the Divisional Director must follow this up promptly.
5.5 Healthcare Professional undertaking delegated consent
Teamwork is a crucial part of the way the NHS operates and where written consent is being sought, it
may be appropriate for other members of the team to participate in the process of seeking consent.
The Healthcare Professional taking delegated consent must ensure that:
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