Annex A > Chapter 17 - Communication Between Healthcare Professionals and Patients > Guidance from professional and related bodies > The United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC)

The United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC)

38 The `Code of Professional Conduct for the Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor' [53] issued by the UKCC in 1984 contained no guidance on obtaining consent or communication with patients.

39 In 1989, the UKCC published guidance entitled `EXERCISING ACCOUNTABILITY - A framework to assist nurses, midwives and health visitors to consider ethical aspects of professional practice'. [54] Under `Consent and Truth', the guidance stated:

`For the purposes of this document "informed consent" means that the practitioner involved explains the intended test or procedure to the patient without bias and in as much detail (including detail of possible reactions, complications, side effects and social or personal ramifications) as the patient requires. In the case of an unquestioning patient the practitioner assesses and determines what information the patient needs so that the patient may make an informed decision. The practitioner should impart the information in a sensitive manner, recognising that it might cause distress. The patient must be given time to consider the information before being required to give the consent unless it is an emergency situation.' [55]

40 It continued:

`If the nurse, midwife or health visitor does not feel that sufficient information has been given in terms readily understandable to the patient so as to enable him to make a truly informed decision, it is for her to state this opinion and seek to have the situation remedied ... Discussion of such matters between the health professionals concerned should not take place in the presence of patients.' [56]

41 It further stated that there will be occasions where a patient's:

`... subsequent statements and questions to a nurse, midwife or health visitor indicate a failure to understand what is to be done, its risks and its ramifications. Where this proves to be the case it is necessary for that practitioner, in the patient's interest, to recall the relevant medical practitioner so that the deficiencies can be remedied without delay.' [57]

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Footnotes

[53] UBHT 0221 0013 - 0017 ; `Code of Professional Conduct for the Nurse, Midwife and Health Visitor', UKCC 1984

[54] UBHT 0221 0001; `EXERCISING ACCOUNTABILITY - A framework to assist nurses, midwives and health visitors to consider ethical aspects of professional practice', UKCC 1989

[55] UBHT 0221 0007; `EXERCISING ACCOUNTABILITY -A framework to assist nurses, midwives and health visitors to consider ethical aspects of professional practice', UKCC 1989

[56] UBHT 0221 0007; `EXERCISING ACCOUNTABILITY - A framework to assist nurses, midwives and health visitors to consider ethical aspects of professional practice', UKCC 1989

[57] UBHT 0221 0007; `EXERCISING ACCOUNTABILITY - A framework to assist nurses, midwives and health visitors to consider ethical aspects of professional practice', UKCC 1989