As a competent frontline healthcare professional, it’s extremely important to understand issues around consent, particularly regarding vulnerable adults and children.
At PDUK we cover this in further detail in our V300 Update course. Usually this is a scheduled course held in London, however the coming couple of sessions will be held online. See the bottom of this page for details.
What is meant by “informed consent”?
Often consent is not just about yes or no to a particular treatment but in understanding how well the patient can make clinical decisions for themselves. It’s also not enough to provide adequate information to ensure consent for the examination, treatment and/or care. Rather there must be sufficient, evidence-based information given to the patient so that they can make balanced, informed decisions about their treatment and care. As well as a general explanation of the procedure, clinicians must also explain its risks alongside the risks of not having the treatment. Information must also be given about any alternatives to the procedure. This information will help the patient to make the decision to consent to, or refuse consent for a particular procedure, whilst respecting their right to decide what happens to them autonomously. If a clinician fails to meet this legal duty, a negligence case could be brought if the patient subsequently comes to harm.
What is meant by “capacity to consent”?
The ability to make decisions independently is often referred to as “having capacity”.
Principles underpinning UK mental health legislation and mental capacity legislation support “assumption of capacity”. This means that adults are presumed to have the ability to make their own decisions about their care, and can refuse any kinds of treatment if they wish to.
If deemed to have capacity, a person is able to provide or withhold consent for examination, treatment and/or care. Whatever informed decision they arrive at must be respected by clinicians and healthcare professionals.
Do you need to update your V300?
This one-day interactive course is ideal for all non-medical prescribers (NMP) with a recorded prescribing qualification (V300) who are working within the NMP role. Completion of the course fulfils the requirement for NMPs to demonstrate ongoing CPD by updating their qualification annually. We cover numerous topics in the course and consent is one of them.
The course is aimed specifically at all NMPs with a V300, including nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, pharmacists, optometrists, podiatrists, midwives and paramedics.
As mentioned, we usually run the course in London, but with the coronavirus situation changing things around this year we’re planning to hold it as an online scheduled course instead.
The 7th July course is now full, however the next online course will be held on the 4th September and spaces are currently still available. We’re then hoping to deliver our December and March ones onsite as usual, but this is subject to change. We will add updates as we know more.
You can find out more and book a place on the Annual NMP V300 update course page.
It’s the perfect way of keeping your CPD going in safe, and interactive way. Get in touch and enrol now!
