Gaining consent and protecting the rights of patients

Consent is not just an issue of concern for senior staff members within a health or social care setting. It is equally important for support workers and all other personnel involved in delivering day-to-day care. Consent therefore needs to be considered and understood if patient's rights are to be met and safe and quality care is to be provided. This article will explore the concept of consent and implications for healthcare assistants, assistant practitioners and other health practitioners.