Best interests and coronavirus testing

I am going to start this post by saying that I have read the very useful note by 39 Essex Chambers on this point. I am certainly not naive enough to think that I know better than they do how the principles apply. But I did think it might help to look at some ofContinue reading “Best interests and coronavirus testing”

Assessments, but do them remotely

So with the recent announcement that social distancing is likely to continue in one form or another for a while, we are all having to get used to ways of working more remotely. Remote assessments have been approved, in principle, by the government in the guidance on the MCA/DoLS that is available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-looking-after-people-who-lack-mental-capacity. TheContinue reading “Assessments, but do them remotely”

Tensions around hospital discharge

Hospital discharge arrangements are often a cause for tension or dispute. This won’t be a surprise to anyone who has had to get involved in these cases. And it’s understandable that this will occur, there are a lot of competing interests involved. For example, pressure on hospital beds are a big driver on NHS TrustContinue reading “Tensions around hospital discharge”

Contacting loved ones in the new age

You may or may not have seen the decision on the BP v Surrey County Council case discussing contact with loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic. If you haven’t seen it, it is here https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCOP/2020/17.html This raised an issue that had been nagging me, and I alluded to it in my previous posts about careContinue reading “Contacting loved ones in the new age”