Quality standard

Quality statement 5: Preferences for sharing information

Quality statement 5: Preferences for sharing information

Quality statement

People using adult NHS services have their preferences for sharing information with their family members and carers established, respected and reviewed throughout their care. [2012]

Rationale

People vary in whether they want partners, family members, friends and carers to be involved in their healthcare, and how much involvement they want them to have. Partners, family members, friends and carers might need information to help them to care for the person. Service providers need to know and understand these preferences and be aware that they may change over time.

Quality measures

Structure

Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people's preferences for sharing information with family members and carers are established, respected and reviewed throughout their care.

Data source: Local data collection.

Process

Proportion of people using adult NHS services whose preferences for sharing information with family members and carers are established, respected and reviewed throughout their care.

Numerator – the number in the denominator whose preferences for sharing information with family members and carers are recorded and reviewed throughout their care.

Denominator – the number of people using adult NHS services.

Data source: Local data collection using audits of patient records.

Outcome

Evidence from patient experience surveys and feedback that people's preferences for sharing information with family members and carers were established, respected and reviewed throughout their care.

Data source: Local data collection.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (such as GPs, hospitals, community services and local authorities) ensure that systems are in place to establish, respect and review people's preferences for sharing information with family members and carers.

Health and social care professionals (such as GPs, doctors, nurses, social workers) establish and respect people's preferences for sharing information with family members and carers. They document preferences and check if they have any new or changed preferences throughout their care.

Commissioners (such as clinical commissioning groups and NHS England) commission services in which people's preferences for sharing information with family members and carers are established, respected and reviewed.

People using NHS services are asked if they want their family members and carers to be given information about their care. Their preferences are respected and reviewed throughout their care.