Consent and Capacity Policy

Last updated: 16 September 2026

1. Our commitment

Medi-Forte is committed to ensuring that all patients receive care based on their free, informed, and voluntary consent. Our clinicians follow the principles set out by the General Medical Council (GMC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

This document explains what consent means, how we obtain and record it, and what happens when a patient may lack the capacity to consent.

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2. What is consent?

Consent is the process by which a patient voluntarily agrees to receive a proposed examination, investigation, or treatment after receiving clear information about it. For consent to be valid it must be:

• Voluntary — given freely, without pressure or coercion
• Informed — the patient has received and understood relevant information about the proposed care and its alternatives
• Specific — it relates to the particular examination, procedure, or course of treatment being proposed
• Given by someone who has the capacity to make that decision

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3. What we tell you before you consent

Before asking for your consent, your clinician will explain:

• What is being proposed and why
• The benefits and expected outcomes
• The material risks and potential side effects
• Any reasonable alternatives, including the option to do nothing
• What will happen during and after the procedure

You will have the opportunity to ask questions and to take time to consider your decision. You will never be pressured to give consent.

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4. Forms of consent

Consent may be:

• Verbal — appropriate for most routine consultations and examinations
• Written — required for invasive procedures, surgical interventions, certain diagnostic tests, and any procedure carrying significant risk
• Implied — for very low-risk, everyday clinical interactions (such as measurement of blood pressure), where the patient's actions make consent evident

Written consent forms will be provided and retained in your clinical record.

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5. Withdrawing consent

You may withdraw consent at any time, including during a procedure. If you do so, the clinician will stop and discuss your concerns with you. Withdrawing consent will not affect your right to receive care.

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6. Children and young people

6.1 Under-16s

For patients under 16, we will normally seek consent from a person with parental responsibility. However, a child under 16 may be able to consent for themselves if the clinician assesses them to have sufficient maturity and understanding to make the decision in question (known as "Gillick competence").

6.2 16 and 17-year-olds

Young people aged 16 and 17 are presumed in law to have capacity to consent to their own treatment under section 8 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969. Parental consent is not required in addition.

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7. Adults who may lack capacity

7.1 The Mental Capacity Act 2005

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides the legal framework for making decisions on behalf of adults who lack capacity. The Act states that:

• Capacity is decision-specific and time-specific — a person may have capacity to make some decisions but not others, and capacity may fluctuate
• There is a presumption of capacity — we must assume a person has capacity unless there is reason to believe otherwise
• A person must be given all practicable support to make their own decision before concluding they lack capacity
• Any decision made on behalf of a person lacking capacity must be in their best interests

7.2 Assessing capacity

Our clinicians will assess whether a patient has capacity to make a specific decision by determining whether the patient can:

1. Understand information relevant to the decision
2. Retain that information long enough to make a decision
3. Weigh up and use the information
4. Communicate their decision

7.3 Best interests decisions

Where a patient lacks capacity, any decision about their treatment will be made in their best interests, taking into account:

• Their known wishes, values, and preferences
• Any Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) they have made while they had capacity
• The views of any appointed Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for health and welfare, or court-appointed deputy
• The views of family members or carers, where relevant

We will document all best interests decisions in the patient's clinical record.

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8. Advance decisions and lasting power of attorney

We will respect valid Advance Decisions to Refuse Treatment (ADRTs) that have been made in writing, signed, and witnessed in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Please let us know if you have an ADRT so we can record it in your notes.

If a patient has appointed a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for health and welfare, the attorney may have authority to make decisions about the patient's healthcare if the patient lacks capacity. Please inform us of any LPA arrangements.

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9. Concerns and questions

If you have any concerns about consent or how a decision was made, please speak to your clinician or contact us at:

• Email: Rosieaslan@medi-forte.com
• Post: 48-52 Penny Lane, Mossley Hill, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom, L18 1DG

You may also wish to refer to our Complaints Policy for information on how to raise a formal concern.

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10. Contact

Mediwell North West Ltd (trading as Medi-Forte) 48-52 Penny Lane, Mossley Hill, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom, L18 1DG Company number: 15753666 Rosieaslan@medi-forte.com