Trust Board Febuary 2010 - Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals

SWBTB (2/10) 037 (a)
The provision of information is central to the consent process. Before patients can come to a decision
about treatment, they need comprehensible information about their condition and about possible
treatment/investigations and their risks and benefits (including the risks/benefits of doing nothing).
They also need to know whether additional procedures are likely to be necessary as part of the
procedure, for example a blood transfusion, or the removal of particular tissue. Once a decision to
have a particular treatment/investigation has been made, patients need information about what will
happen: where to go, how long they will be in hospital, how they will feel afterwards and so on.
Patients and those close to them will vary in how much information they want: from those who want
as much detail as possible, including details of rare risks, to those who ask health professionals to
make decisions for them. There will always be an element of clinical judgement in determining what
information should be given. However, the presumption must be that the patient wishes to be well
informed about the risks and benefits of the various options. Where the patient makes clear (verbally
or non-verbally) that they do not wish to be given this level of information, this should be
documented.
The following sources of patient information are available in this Trust:
EIDO patient information library (reference)
PALS Department (ext.5836 – City site and ext.3928 – Sandwell site)
Additional information may be viewed via the Trust web links:
NHS Direct – http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) – http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/
Patient information is developed locally with divisions. New patient information must be agreed
through the Clinical Governance arrangements within the Division.
Provisions for patients whose first language is not English and/or those with sensory impairment
or loss.
This Trust is committed to ensuring that patients whose first language is not English receive the
information they need and are able to communicate appropriately with healthcare staff. It is not
appropriate to use children, family members or friends to interpret for patients who do not speak
English. (see Patient Communication policy). Additional advice is available via the PALS Department
ext. 5386 – City site and ext. 3829 – Sandwell site. Interpreters may be booked via the Cultural
Liaison Office ext. 5019.
Following identification of a patient’s language and communication need via the ‘pick and point card’
booked appointments are recorded by Trust PAS and retrieved daily by Centralised Booking.
Emergency and walk-ins booking forms may be sent via email, faxed, posted or arrangements made
by telephone.
8.1.1 Access to more detailed or specialist information.
Patients may sometimes request more detailed information about their condition or about a
proposed treatment that provided in general leaflets. This Trust will encourage the Divisions to
develop communication systems to assist this process.
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