Why Rushed Patient Education puts Surgical Safety at Risk

Expert perspective from Julie Smith

Patient education plays a critical role in safe surgical care. However, it is often one of the first things to be compressed when healthcare systems are under pressure.

Julie Smith, Content Director of EIDO Patient Information, recently explored this issue in an article written for Patient Safety Learning, where she acts as a Topic Lead on all things patient information. Drawing on published research and her experience developing patient information for informed consent, Julie examines the risks that arise when patient education is rushed or deprioritised.

This page highlights the key themes from Julie’s article and what they mean for organisations responsible for supporting informed decision making in healthcare.

Patient education and safety: what the evidence tells us

Recent research continues to underline the importance of patient education in surgery. A large scale study of NHS patients found that pre operative anxiety is common and that levels of anxiety are linked to both patient satisfaction and post procedure outcomes.

Importantly, the research showed that effective patient education can:

• Reduce anxiety before surgery
• Improve patient satisfaction
• Help patients understand what to expect and when to seek help after a procedure

This evidence reinforces what many clinicians and patient safety professionals already recognise: patient education is not an optional extra; it is a core safety intervention.

When education is rushed, consent is weakened

In practice, patients need time to:

• Absorb information
• Reflect on risks and benefits
• Discuss decisions with family or carers

When consultations are rushed, information is shared too late, or education is treated as a formality, consent risks becoming transactional rather than truly informed. This can result in patients missing key post operative guidance, failing to recognise complications, or agreeing to procedures without fully understanding the implications.

Julie’s perspective highlights that these risks rarely stem from a lack of professionalism or care. Instead, they are often the result of systemic pressure, limited time, and competing priorities; all of which can directly affect patient safety.

Approaches such as Radar Healthcare Digital Consent help address this by ensuring patients receive clear, structured information in advance, giving them time to absorb, reflect and engage in more meaningful consent discussions with clinicians.

Anxiety, uncertainty, and the patient experience

For many patients, hospitals are unfamiliar and intimidating environments. Combined with fear about a diagnosis or procedure, this can significantly heighten anxiety.

Evidence suggests that good quality patient education that is shared early enough and in an accessible format can meaningfully reduce this anxiety. When patients know what to expect, why a procedure is needed, and how to recognise problems afterwards, they feel more confident and better prepared.

Reducing anxiety isn’t simply about comfort; it is closely linked to outcomes, engagement, and recovery.

Patient education must be treated as a safety priority

A key message from Julie’s article is that patient education should be built into the care pathway as a defined, resourced, and prioritised activity. It should never be treated as an administrative step.

For this to happen:

• Leadership must recognise education as a patient safety issue
• Healthcare professionals must be given the time and tools to deliver it properly
• Organisations must ensure information is accessible, timely, and consistent

Failing to prioritise patient education is a preventable patient safety risk; one that can have real consequences for patient experience, outcomes, and trust.

Read the full article ⬇️

Julie’s full article, “When patient education is rushed, safety is compromised”, was originally published by Patient Safety Learning in April 2026.