Consent Policy

the247dentist follows the GDC guidelines Standards for the Dental Team: ‘Principle 3, Obtain Valid
Consent’. We treat patients politely and with respect, in recognition of their dignity and rights as
individuals. We also recognise and promote our patients’ responsibility for making decisions about their
bodies, their priorities and their care and make sure we do not take any steps without a patient’s consent
(permission).
The clinical team member will always obtain valid consent before starting treatment or physical
investigation, or providing personal care for a patient, because patients have a right to choose whether
or not to accept advice or treatment. Clinical team members are adequately trained to ensure that the
patient has:
▪ Enough information to make a decision (informed consent)
▪ Made a decision (voluntary decision-making)
▪ The ability to make an informed decision (capacity)
The nature of the private treatment and all charges are clarified to the patient before it commences and
the patient is able to request a copy of their treatment plan and cost estimate via email. All team members
are aware that:
▪ Once the consent has been given, it may be withdrawn at any time
▪ Giving and getting consent is a process, not a one-off event. It is an ongoing discussion between
the clinician and the patient
▪ It is necessary to find out what the patient wants to know, as well as saying what the clinician
thinks the patient needs to know. Examples of information which patients may want to know
include: why a proposed treatment is necessary; the risks and benefits of the proposed treatment;
what might happen if the treatment is not carried out and alternative forms of treatment, their
risks and benefits, and whether or not the treatment is considered appropriate
▪ If an estimate has been agreed with a patient, but it is necessary to change the treatment plan, the
patient’s consent to any further treatment and extra cost will always be obtained prior to providing
the changed treatment. This will be achieved by the provision of an amended digital treatment
plan and estimate
Everyone aged 16 or over is presumed to have capacity to make their own decisions unless it can be
shown that they lack capacity to make a particular decision at the time it needs to be made. If the treating
clinician thinks that someone lacks capacity to make a treatment decision, s/he will carry out a mental
capacity assessment and, if appropriate, make a decision in the person’s best interests. We have a Mental
Capacity Assessment (M 289A) to provide a record of how a treatment decision was reached.
Children’s consent
A child is a person under 18.
Children aged 16 and over are presumed to have capacity and able to consent or, refuse to treatment
in their own right. If the practitioner thinks a child aged 16 or over may lack capacity, a mental capacity
assessment will be carried out and the results recorded in the clinical notes.
If a child is under 16, it is the first choice to obtain the consent of the parent or carer. But for various
reasons this may not be possible. A child who is under 16 can give consent if the practitioner considers
that the child is ‘Gillick competent’. The description of Gillick competency and a practitioner checklist for
assessment is found in Valid Consent (M 292).
Last modified: 21 Mar 2023 The 247 Dentist, , SO31 8BR
M 233-CNS – Consent Policy, Ver 14, Folder 7, Page 1 of 2
Consent for processing personal data
There is a separate policy that coverts consent for processing the personal data of non-patients.
See the Data Protection and Information Security Policy (M 233-DPT), which covers marketing
and its communication methods.
Training on consent is provided to team members via newsletters. Consent procedures are reviewed and
monitored annually.