Audit download: Management of Patient Consent Preferences and Advance Decisions Audit
Consent is not a one-off event, it is an ongoing process that sits at the heart of safe, lawful, and person-centred care. In general practice, patients’ preferences about treatment, information sharing, and future decision-making can change over time and across different circumstances.
Managing these preferences well ensures that care is delivered with patients, not just to them.
Why This Audit Was Created
This audit focuses on the Management of Patient Consent Preferences and Advance Decisions, aligning with the following CQC “We” statements:
- Consent to care and treatment (Effective)
- Independence, choice and control (Caring)
- Governance, management and sustainability (Well-led)
CQC increasingly expects practices to demonstrate that consent is clearly recorded, visible, reviewed, and respected, not assumed or inconsistently applied.
Why This Matters in General Practice
Respecting patient autonomy
Patients have the right to make informed decisions about their care, including decisions to refuse treatment or to specify how information is shared. Recognising and honouring these choices is fundamental to ethical practice and compassionate care.
Reducing risk and uncertainty
When consent preferences, advance decisions, or LPAs are not clearly recorded or visible, there is a risk of care being delivered that does not reflect the patient’s wishes, particularly during urgent or out-of-hours situations.
Consistency across the team
General practice involves multiple clinicians, administrative staff, and partner organisations. Clear, accessible consent information ensures that everyone involved in a patient’s care works from the same understanding, reducing variation and error.
Strong governance and legal compliance
Consent is a key regulatory focus. Practices must be able to show that they have systems in place to manage consent lawfully, review decisions when circumstances change, and learn from incidents or complaints involving consent.
What Good Practice Looks Like
- Consent preferences and advance decisions clearly recorded and easy to find
- ADRTs and LPAs documented, current, and visible to relevant staff
- Information-sharing preferences respected and reviewed
- Staff confident in discussing consent and capacity with patients
- Governance oversight ensuring consistency and improvement
Final Thoughts
Managing consent preferences and advance decisions is about more than compliance, it is about trust, dignity, and respect. When patients feel confident that their wishes will be heard and honoured, relationships are stronger and care is safer.
By completing the Management of Patient Consent Preferences and Advance Decisions Audit, practices can demonstrate that they:
- Put patient choice at the centre of care
- Manage consent lawfully and consistently
- Meet CQC expectations with clarity and confidence
Most importantly, it shows a commitment to listening to what matters most to patients now and in the future.
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