Changing practices in the consent process for nose and throat procedures: a three-year study

To assess elective surgery consent practices amongst senior house officers from a selection of UK ENT departments, and to compare results with those obtained in a similar survey in 2002.

A telephone survey of senior house officers in 40 UK ENT departments was carried out to assess departmental consent policies and knowledge of complications of common ENT operations.

Over 80 per cent of the senior house officers surveyed remained responsible for obtaining consent for routine surgery. Since 2002, there had been a significant increase in the proportion of departments which: used the Department of Health model consent form; provided patient information leaflets; and had an established informed consent protocol. Senior house officers' knowledge of specific complications remained poor.

There has been a small change in the practice of obtaining informed consent, in accordance with General Medical Council guidelines. Many senior house officers continue to perform this duty, however, and the majority are poorly trained.