At DrDavidCartland.com we are committed to providing high-quality health and well-being advice to all our patients while upholding the principles of patient confidentiality, consent and informed decision-making. Our Consent and Referral Policy outlines our approach to us sharing your personal information with any appropriate third-party as part of the service provided.
1. Consent
1.1 Consent Process: When providing any advice, our healthcare professionals will ensure that patients understand the nature, purpose, risks and benefits of any advice.
1.2 Informed Consent: Patients have the right to make informed decisions about any issue that affects their health. We will provide patients with clear and accessible information about their diagnosis, treatment options, potential risks and expected outcomes, to enable them to make informed decisions about their care.
1.3 Capacity and Competence: We recognize that some patients may lack the capacity to provide informed consent due to their medical condition or other factors. In such cases, we will follow appropriate legal and ethical guidelines to determine the patient's best interests and obtain consent from their legal representatives, where applicable.
1.4 Consent for Minors: For patients under the age of 16, we will seek consent from their parent or legal guardian before providing any advice, except in exceptional circumstances where the minor is deemed competent to provide consent.
1.5 Documentation: All consent discussions and decisions will be documented in the patient's medical records to ensure transparency and accountability.
2. Referral
2.1 Referral Criteria: Our healthcare professionals will assess each patient's symptoms and complaints, and their potential treatment needs, to determine whether referral to any third-party specialist services might be necessary. Any referrals will be made based on clinical indications, patient preferences and the availability of specialist services.
2.2 Shared Decision-Making: We encourage shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals regarding referrals to specialist services. Patients will be provided with information about their referral options, including the benefits, risks, and alternatives, to support them in making informed decisions about their care.
2.3 Referral Process: Referrals will be made electronically or by other secure means to ensure timely communication with specialist services. Our healthcare professionals will provide patients with information about their referral, including the reason for the referral and any necessary preparations or instructions.
2.4 Monitoring and Follow-Up: We will ensure timely communication between our service and any third-party specialist services.
2.5 Patient Choice: Where possible, we will respect patients' preferences regarding the choice of specialist services, and we will facilitate referrals to their preferred healthcare providers, taking into account clinical appropriateness and availability.
2.6 Referral Feedback: We welcome feedback from patients about their experiences with other third-party specialist services, to continuously improve the quality and effectiveness of our referral process.
Conclusion
Our Consent and Referral Policy reflects our commitment to promoting patient-centred care, respecting patient autonomy and ensuring the highest standards of ethical practice in healthcare delivery. We strive to maintain open and transparent communication with our patients throughout their healthcare journey and to facilitate access to appropriate specialist services when needed. If you have any questions or concerns about our Consent and Referral Policy, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Policy last reviewed 27.03.24