Part 4: How carers can help in consultations
10 out of 13Carers can advocate for your best interests:
- In some situations, your carer may need to speak up on your behalf, to represent your best interests. This is called advocacy.
- Whilst most patients do not want their carer to take over, there are some situations where it may be appropriate for carers to advocate for the patient.
- Below are some examples of when a carer may need to advocate for the patient in cancer consultations:
The patient isn’t speaking up.
E.g. The patient is scheduled to have chemotherapy on Tuesdays, but they haven’t let the doctor know that this is the one day a week that they meet with their cancer support group.
The patient’s symptoms are not getting enough medical attention.
E.g. The patient is experiencing extreme nausea and is struggling to eat, but the nurse doesn’t understand the impact this is having on the patient’s life and doesn’t offer any guidance/support.
The patient is in hospital and is not receiving the required medical attention/support.
E.g. The patient has a wound that needs to be redressed and the nursing staff have not yet changed it.
The patient needs additional health services that aren’t being offered.
E.g. The patient is struggling emotionally and needs to see a mental health clinician e.g. counsellor, psychologist.
OVERALL COMPLETION
