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Digital Consent

At Leeds Teaching Hospitals, patients usually sign paper forms to consent to an operation or procedure. We’re trialling a new approach for some of our procedures, using a digital solution called Concentric.

Concentric allows patients to see, understand and sign their consent information on a smart phone, tablet, or computer.

Patients can look at the information about their operation or procedure whenever they want, on their own device. Your consultant will discuss the options to either give their consent in person or, when appropriate, remotely from any location.

A short animation explaining digital consent

We have a new way for you to give permissions for an operation or procedure. It’s called digital consent, and we’re rolling it out through our services at the hospital.

It will eventually be available to everyone. When you meet one of our clinicians, they will be able to talk you through the options for your operational procedure. They will show you the consent form on screen and explain exactly what’s involved and everything you need to know before agreeing this is the right thing for you. You can either sign your consent for the operation or procedure whilst you are in clinic or choose to have it sent to you electronically so that you can sign it at home.
 
We’ll send you a text or email with the secure link that you will need. This information can then be accessed on your phone, laptop, or computer.
It will give you the time to think through and review the options for your operation or procedure and allow you to discuss it with your family or friends if you want to. That means that when you come back into hospital on the day of your operational procedure, your consultant will bring a screen to your bedside to easily show you again the details of the operation or procedure you are consenting to. They will also digitally sign it themselves.

Safe, reliable, efficient, and secure. Digital patient consent made easy.

Animation originally produced by Bradford Teaching Hospitals

Your consultant will use the Concentric system to select the appropriate consent form for your operation or procedure. They can modify the consent form to fit your needs. You will discuss your medical treatment, needs and preferences alongside the digital consent form.

Once your consultant has finished explaining the consent form to you, you might be asked to sign it with your finger on a screen. If not, the form can be sent to you by email or text message, so you can look at it and sign it later.

More information is available on the Concentric website.

How do I view the consent form?

  • The consent form can be shared by sending a link to your email or mobile phone. An example of the email you’ll receive is shown below.
Example email invitation for the digital consent system
  • Your text message will be addressed from Concentric, with a message from Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS and a link to access the consent form.
  • To view the link to the consent form, you need to enter a date of birth. You can then log in to view your consent form. You won’t need to download or install a separate app to do this.
Example screen to enter date of birth in the digital consent system

Can someone consent on my behalf?

No, however, people with parental responsibility are entitled to give consent on behalf of their children, or a person with lasting power of attorney (for health and welfare), can sign on behalf of a patient.

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Is my information safe?

Where is my data stored?

Concentric is hosted in the cloud on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP), using UK-based data centres. GCP is compliant with all healthcare information governance requirements. 

A copy of the signed consent form is also stored on the hospital’s Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system.

What data is processed?

  • Patient title, given name, and family name 
  • Patient date of birth 
  • Patient gender 
  • Patient hospital number and/or NHS number 
  • Patient contact details 

What data is collected and processed by Concentric?

Further information is explained in the Concentric privacy notice.

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Further information and support

Who provides the digital consent solution?

The digital consent solution is provided by Concentric, a supplier of digital consent solutions across the UK. More information is available on the Concentric website.

Where can I find further help about the system if I need it?

You can access support and frequently asked questions on the Concentric website.

How can I opt out?

Using the Concentric system for consent is completely voluntary. If you would prefer not to use it, we’ll discuss this with you as part of the consent process so we can help you to choose the option you’re most comfortable with.

To discuss further, please contact your consultant via the contact details provided on your clinic or ward.

I have received an email or text and entered my date of birth but I’m unable to access the consent form.

First, ensure the correct date of birth has been entered. If there is still a problem, please contact your consultant’s medical secretary.

How do I know the message I have received is genuine?

  • 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 us.
  • Your email message will be addressed from “Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust” (via Concentric) – [email protected]
  • It will be titled ‘Important information about your upcoming treatment’.
  • It will include the Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust logo and will read ‘Dear [Name]’
  • The ‘View my information link’ will only be accessible using the date of birth you have confirmed with us.

Will I still have access to an interpreter when signing the digital form?

Yes, an interpreter will still be available when consent is provided within the hospital.

Will I be charged to receive the text and open the link provided?

No, this service is free to our patients.

Who do I contact if I have changed my mind and no longer want to consent?

Please contact your consultant, via the contact details provided on your clinic or ward.

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