Policy for Dignity, Care and respect of Patients

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Policy for Dignity, Care and respect of Patients

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Introduction

This policy sets out F4HG provision to ensure that patients are afforded privacy and dignity, and are treated respectfully, in all circumstances especially where there is the potential for embarrassment or for the patient to feel “ill at ease”.

The requirement to respect patients is the responsibility of all staff, not just those in direct clinical contact with the patient.

Vulnerable patients in this respect may include:

Infirm
Disabled
Those with racial or cultural beliefs
Illiterate
Homeless / no fixed abode
Those with specific conditions
Patients with communication difficulties
Those patients with gender requirements
Those known to staff / known by staff
Family members
Patients from minority groups
Older people

Form of Address

We recognise that patients vary in preference for the way in which they are addressed by healthcare professionals caring for them. On first meeting a new patient it is essential that the practitioner establishes the most appropriate form of address. Where this is not obvious from the consultation process the patient should be specifically asked how they would prefer to be addressed. This preference should be documented in the patient’s notes.

It is recognised that this preference may change during the course of the professional relationship but at least initially the patient’s expressed wishes should be noted.

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Confidentiality

Patients have a right to expect that their personal information is respected and remains private and confidential.

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Personal Privacy and Dignity

Consultations prior to treatment are conducted in a private consultation room. All information regarding patients is treated as confidential. When changing is required for a particular examination or treatment, all patients are permitted to change into appropriate attire in a private and secure environment to respect their privacy and dignity.

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Identification of Staff Members

Staff members will be provided with name badges to clearly identify them and their position within the organisation. These will be worn by all staff members whenever they are on duty within the organisation.

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Practitioner/Patient Relationship and Prevention of Abuse

It is the responsibility of the Practitioner to ensure that they safeguard the interest of their patients at all times.

F4HG is responsible for ensuring that Practitioners can practise within an environment that is safe, supportive and free from abuse of any kind. Patients are vulnerable whenever their health or usual function is compromised. This vulnerability increases when they enter unfamiliar surroundings, situations or relationships. F4HG has a philosophy of zero tolerance of abuse in the interests of protection its patients.

Practitioners are personally accountable for ensuring that they promote the interests of patients in their care, irrespective of gender, age, race, disability, sexuality, culture or religious belief. The only appropriate relationship between Practitioner and patient is one which focused on the needs of the patient and it is the responsibility of the practitioner to ensure that the professional boundaries are maintained at all times.

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Personal relationships with vulnerable patients are never acceptable.

Abuse within the practitioner patient relationship is the result of misuse of power or a betrayal of trust, respect or intimacy between practitioner and patient which the practitioner should know would cause physical or emotional harm to the patient.

Abuse takes many different forms and can be physical, psychological, verbal, sexual, financial, material or based upon neglect.

Where an incident is brought to the attention of the Registered Person and it could be construed that the incident constitutes an issue in which an adult was placed in a position of being vulnerable and so subject to a possible assault (e.g. sexual) then the matter should be immediately referred to the appropriate authorities (Police, Local Authority, Social Services) to be dealt with under the local authority vulnerable adult policy. Any proven instance of abuse will be treated as gross misconduct and render any staff member liable to summary dismissal as well as likely action by external authorities.

F4HG will also inform the relevant authorities (e.g. police, GMC, NMC, and Care Quality Commission).

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Care and Protection of Children and Young Adults:

F4HG recognises that the care and treatment of children (under 16 years) and young adults (between 16 – 18 years) requires special consideration in terms of protection from abuse and in terms of consent to treatment due to their inherently increased vulnerability.

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Provisions:

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Reception

F4HG will not stereotype patients based on perceived characteristics
Patients will be referred to with respect even in private discussions in the service
Patients will be addressed by their preferred method and titles (Mr, Mrs etc.) will be used as a first preference by staff
A sign will be available in reception to offer the facility of a private discussion with a receptionist if required
Guide dogs will be permitted in all parts of the building
A hearing text service will be in place for staff use with patients
Under no circumstances will staff enter through a closed consultation room / treatment room door without first knocking, and waiting for permission to enter (if occupied), or pausing to determine that the room is empty.

‍Consultations

Consultations will not be interrupted unless there is an emergency, in which case the room will be telephoned as a first step, before knocking at the door and awaiting specific permission from the clinician to enter
A chaperone will be offered where an examination is to take place. See Chaperone Policy
Clinical staff will be sensitive to the needs of the individual and will ensure that they are comfortable in complying with any requests with the potential to cause embarrassment
Patients will be afforded as much time and privacy as is required to recover from the delivery of “bad news”, and the clinical staff will, where possible, anticipate this need
Patients will be able to dress and undress privately in the consultation room, a screen will be provided for that purpose. Patients using this facility will be requested to advise the clinician when they are ready to be seen, and they will be afforded sufficient time to do this bearing in mind infirmity etc
A clean single-use couch roll or similar will be available in each examination / treatment room, changed after each patient, and the patient will be advised of its availability
Washing facilities will be offered to the patient if required
Clinicians and staff will allow “personal space” where possible and respect this
Patients will be given adequate opportunity, time and privacy for the provision of samples on the premises without feeling under duress or time limitation
The area used for dressing / undressing will be equipped with coat / clothes hangers, pegs, or similar for clothes, and will have a chair at a suitable height and design available and suitable for the patient to use
Patients with difficulty in understanding due to language may have a family member or friend available to interpret or assist
Communication by staff to patients will be individual according to the needs of the individual patient (e.g. those with speech difficulties, hearing, or learning difficulties may need an individual approach)
Where an intimate examination is considered necessary to be performed on a patient with difficulty in understanding due to language or other issues (e.g. consent or cultural issues) it is recommended that a Chaperone or family member / carer should always be present
Areas used by patients for dressing / undressing will be secure from interruption or ingress (i.e. there will be no unlocked door to either a corridor or to any room not occupied by the consulter who is attending that patient
Patients who may have difficulty in undressing may be offered the services of a second (same gender) clinician or trained Chaperone to assist
Patients will be requested only to remove a minimum of clothing necessary for the examination
Consultations in the patient’s home will be sensitive to the location and any other persons who may be present or may overhear.

‍Post - Consultation

Clinicians and staff will respect the dignity of patients and will not discuss issues arising from the above procedures unless in a confidential clinical setting appropriate to the care of the patient (respectful of the patient even when not there).

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