Belfast City Hospital Trust is a major teaching hospital with significant links to both Queen’s University and the University of Ulster. Our students must gain practical experience in the treatment and care of patients. The Hospital benefits from its teaching responsibilities in many ways, such as attracting high quality staff and offering many specialist services that might otherwise not be available.

We hope therefore that you will be happy to allow students to be involved in your care. If you do not wish students to be involved at any stage, then you have every right to say so. Just let a member of staff know. Your care will not be affected by your decision in any way.

Research and clinical audit

The Hospital is also a major research centre. During your stay you may be asked whether you are willing to take part in a clinical research study. You do not have to do so and have every right to refuse. This will not affect your treatment in any way. If you do decide to take part, you will be given a full explanation and you will be asked to sign a separate consent form.

It is very important that health professionals audit (check the quantity of) the treatment they are giving to patients.

To do this, they need to collect information held in your medical records. Any information that is collected cannot be traced to individual patients. The findings from audits are sometimes published in medical journals.