Informed consent and shared decision making (SDM) are now cornerstones of modern surgical practice. The 2015 Montgomery ruling magnified the importance of an informed and personalised consent process. 

Chelsea and Westminster trust moved to introduce digital consent in 2021. This poster outlines the roll out and uptake of digital consent for elective gynaecological surgery within the trust over the first 12 months (January 2022 – January 2023).

The platform used was ‘Concentric Health’. This is a UK company which has developed an SDM and consent tool which has been adapted to function within the NHS. Concentric is a web-accessible digital consent application that allows clinicians to provide tailored consent forms with risk profiles explained in suitable language and coupled with visual representations of risk. It also outlines alternatives to treatment and anaesthetic options. Patient information leaflets can also be attached to the consent form.

 

The expected benefits of digital consent are that the consent process will have increased transparency and will meet the expectations outlined by the Montgomery ruling.