Medicines adherence: involving patients in decisions about prescribed medicines and supporting adherence

Your care

All NICE clinical guidelines state that you have the right to be fully informed about your condition and possible treatments and to make decisions in partnership with your healthcare team.

All healthcare professionals should treat you with respect, sensitivity and understanding. If you agree, your family and carers should have the chance to be involved in decisions about your care. Family members and carers also have the right to the information and support they need in their roles as carers.

If people are unable to understand a particular issue or are not able to make decisions for themselves, healthcare professionals should follow the Department of Health's advice on consent and the code of practice for the Mental Capacity Act. Information about the Act and consent issues is available from Carers Direct on NHS Choices. In Wales healthcare professionals should follow advice on consent from the Welsh Government.