Understanding and consenting to your treatment
Consenting to Treatment
We want to make sure that you fully understand your condition and the treatment choices available to you. Before you receive any treatment your doctor, nurse, therapist or pharmacist can help you in a few ways:
- understand what the treatment is and how long you need to use it
- understand the benefits of the treatment
- manage any side effects
- talk about your worries about your treatment or medicines.
If you decide not to have a treatment of take a medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They can support you and explain how this could affect you.
Treatment will not be carried out without your consent unless it is an emergency and you are unconscious.
For more information please see consent for common surgical procedures
Will any samples or specimens be taken from me?
Sometimes samples or specimens are taken from you during your treatment to help us understand your condition or plan your treatment. If you are unhappy for these samples or specimens to be used for research purposes, then please make this clear to a doctor or nurse who is involved in your care.
Information about You
When you are a patient, we ask you for information so that you can receive appropriate care and treatment. We take the confidentiality of your information extremely serious. If you want to know more about how we use your information, please look at our information at your Information – what you need to know
Can I have a copy of my medical letters?
Please ask your doctor, nurse or therapist if you would like a copy of your medical letters.