Information Page
Carers Confidentiality Guidelines
A carer, for the purpose of this guide , is someone who provides help and support to someone who cannot manage on there own due to illness, disability,addiction or old age.
All professionals working in mental health services are bound by law and a breach of confidentiality can lead to disciplinary measures. They also have a duty of confidentiality to carers.
Confidentiality is a major for issue for carers. Carers need information so that they can continue to support the patient and provide care efficiently. The issuers around information-sharing between mental health professionals and carers are complex and this guide hopes to provide some further understanding and guidance around confidentiality.
What information can be given to me without consent?
You may ask for information about a condition from any medical staff or mental health professional. They should be able to provide you with general information, such as various illnesses, medication and services available, both for the patient and the carers. Hopefully , this can help a carer understand someone's mental illness, how to deal with problem behaviors or who you can turn to for help.
What if I want information about a particular person?
If the person agrees to information being shared about their illness and treatment, then information can be obtained from the medical staff, mental health professionals involved or consultant psychiatrist on the ward. The patient will be allocated a named nurse on admission.
What if the person does not agree to information being shared?
Carers, even when you are next of kin, do not have a statutory right to information about the person they care for, even when that person in very unwell. Routine consent is sought from the patient for information to be shared with the carers. However ,the sharing of information needs to respect patient confidentiality . This can be a very frustrating situation for family members whose relatives may not want them involved. However, Bolton Mental Health Services has a duty of care towards carers and if there are significant rick issues involved, services have a duty to inform the carer, over and above the consent of the patient.
Can I give information about the patient to the medical staff or mental health professional , if the patient is refusing any carer involvement?
Even if the patient does not agree to any information being shared, the carer still has a right to provide any relevant information to assist in the patient care and treatment. Issues around confidentiality should not be used as a reason for not listening to carers.
What if I want to provide confidential information about the patient to the medical staff or mental health professional?
if you inform the staff of the need for the information you provide to be kept confidential, then this right should be respected (see confidentiality statement) . However, there are certain circumstances when mental health staff have to decide that information needs to be shared, as it is in the patient's best interest. For example, if information provided indicates any rick of serious harm then this has to be shared to reduce or end that risk. For example, if information provided indicates any serious harm then this has to be reduce or end that rick. For further information about confidentiality, please ask the staff on the ward, the mental health professionals involved or ask the staff to contact the family support worked at the hospital.
