Consent

They will use the most up to date information to help you understand the benefits, risks and any alternatives so that you can make an informed decision about your care.

Your consent will always be requested before a procedure takes place, even if you have had the same procedure before. No procedure, however minor, will be carried out without your agreement.

Depending on the type of procedure, your consent may be given verbally or by signing a consent form.

Consent can be taken at the time of the procedure or earlier, sometimes days or weeks in advance. If anything changes – for example, new information becomes available or your clinical needs change, we will discuss this with you and seek your consent again.

If anything is unclear or you would like more information, please ask us. We are always happy to go through the details again. In some cases, we may also discuss the possibility of additional procedures that could become necessary once the procedure has begun and ask you to consent to these in advance.

This is often done when there is a small chance that an urgent step may be required while you are under general anaesthetic or unable to give consent at the time.

If an unexpected emergency arises during your procedure and you have not previously given consent for additional treatment, a senior doctor may act in your best interests and carry out what is necessary to prevent serious harm or save your life.

Our aim is to ensure you feel fully informed, supported and involved in every decision about your care.