Informed Consent and Patient Records

Informed consent is a patient's basic right to be given a clear explanation of the procedure and treatment to be given.  Your written consent will be required before surgery or any invasive procedure is carried out.

More information can be obtained from:

• Your Consultant
• Various clinical information leaflets produced by the Hospital and other organisations
• Your GP or NHS Direct help line 0845 46 47 48
• Various internet sites including NHS Direct Online at:  www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

The Hospital keeps information about you so that it can continue to provide the best possible care and treatment.  These records are private and confidential and are maintained under the Data Protection Act 1998.  They are used in your care and treatment and may also be used in clinical audits, clinical staff training and statutory reporting.  They will not be released to others without your permission.

Additional information is available in the following leaflets available upon request:

• 'Information about the Data Protection Act 1998 - Access to your health records'
• 'Information advising patients of the reasons for the collection and release of relevant information on them by the hospital'
  

We are also required to pass non-clinical information to third parties, who for statutory or other official reasons require information about you, for example Healthcare Commission, the Hospital's Registering Authority, Registration of Births & Deaths.

You have a right of access to your health records, and the process for doing this is set out in our Access to Health Records Policy.  Applications for access to health records should be made in writing to the Health Records Manager. Please recognise that your health record is a necessary aid to your treatment and may not be immediately available to you.  An administrative charge is levied for its preparation.

All staff at Benenden Hospital have a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
You may be receiving care from other healthcare providers as well as from Benenden Hospital, and in order that we can all work together for your benefit, we may sometimes need to share information about you.   This only happens when there is a genuine need, and whenever possible we will remove details which may identify you.

Anyone who receives information from us is also bound under a legal duty to keep this information confidential.

Whilst an inpatient, if you agree, named relatives, friends and/or carers will be kept up to date with the progress of your treatment.

MAIN REASONS FOR WHICH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE REQUIRED

• Providing healthcare and treatment
• Looking after the health of the general public
• Helping Hospital staff to review the care they provide to ensure it is of the highest standard
• Training and education of clinical staff (you can choose whether or not you wish to be involved)
• Research approved by the Local Research Ethics Committee.  (Should anything connected with a research project involve you personally, you will be contacted to ascertain if you are willing to take part.)  You do of course have the right to decline.
• Managing and planning - to ensure that our service meets our patients needs in the future
• Preparing performance and activity statistics for Benenden Hospital.  A system is in place to ensure patient anonymity
• Investigating complaints or legal claims
• Paying fees to other hospitals for consultations, tests, treatment and the care they provide, as well as the auditing of their accounts.