Digital patient consent

Data is entered into the digital consent application by a doctor or an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. They modify the consent information to meet the needs of the individual patient and then either share it with the patient immediately or send it to them to via email or text message to review later. After reviewing the information provided, the patient can document their consent to the proposed treatment or ask their healthcare professional for further information.

The Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is used for all hosting and data processing, within a data centre in the UK. GCP is compliant with all healthcare information governance requirements. Once the consent episode is completed, a pdf version of the consent form is automatically transferred into the Trust’s Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems.

All data is protected following industry best practice with regard to access controls and encryption.

The Trust manages clinician’s access and password strengths rules are enforced. Patients are sent an email with a unique link and enter their date of birth in order to verify their identity. All data is stored using leading encryption methods and is transferred securely.

The data will only ever be used by BTHFT to manage the consent process as part of your treatment. It will not be used for any other purposes, such as research or population health management, unless we contact you and specifically ask for permission to do so.

Provided your consent has been shared with you by the clinician in charge of your care, you can sign your consent via your smartphone or computer at home if you have access to the internet by using your finger or with an accessory which is capable of capturing an electronic signature.

Yes. Our process remains the same. If you are a parent, guardian, person with legal responsibility for another, you will still be able to sign on behalf of the patient. For more information you can discuss this further with your clinician.

The most common reason is when the communication is for a family member who we have your mobile phone number or email address for (e.g. a child) you need to use their date of birth to verify and not your own. Try this first. If you still cannot log in with your details, please contact our Central Patient Booking Service on 01274 274 274 to check we have your most up to date information. (8.30am – 5pm, Monday – Friday).

Your text message will be addressed from “Concentric”.

It will read ‘Dear [Name]’ and will provide a secure, randomly generated link which you can only open with the date of birth which you have confirmed with BTHFT.

Your email message will be addressed from “Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (via Concentric) notifications@concentric.health”

It will be titled “Important information about your upcoming treatment”.

It will include the BTHFT NHS logo and will read ‘Dear [Name]’

The ‘View my information link’ will only be accessible by using the date of birth you have confirmed with BTHFT.

No, this service is free to our patients.

Please contact Information.Governance@bthft.nhs.uk

Paper consents will still be available for a while and you can discuss this with the clinician in charge of your care at the time.

Yes, your consent can be revoked if you wish. You should contact your consultant’s Medical Secretary to raise your concerns and they will liaise with the clinician in charge of your care.