So having asked GP to do a capacity assessment on my mother back in October 2017 and October 2018 still nothing. Mother has wee infection and via telephone GP has prescribed antibiotics. I went to pick up prescription and he agreed to see me. He kept going on about dis-ease. He asked whether it was my mother with the problem or me! Why did I think she had dementia - because her behaviour has not been normal for several years and is progressively worsening. He kept mentioning dis-ease and said it was probably her personality!!! Anyway, cut a long story short, at the end of the conversation he said that to get a capability assessment she would have to be in full agreement to it and it is not the case of just a piece of paper, it is now a 48 page form and has huge consequences! So I rather get the feeling that the GP is saying a) they can't be bothered to do it and b) they are not prepared to do it because of possible implications against them. Solicitor has said GP needs to do it, Social Services have said GP needs to do it. GP says they need to build a bond with my mother and see whether she would be willing to have any tests!!!!!!!!! Grrr.......................... Why would she have bothered to put both POAs in place all those years ago naming me as her attorney and for me not to be able to use them when I feel they will benefit her? Before I left he kept repeating dis-ease. So he is implying that all her forms of bad behaviour, forgetting stuff, muddling stuff up, etc. are not dementia and just her!
How to get any help
- Thread starter pingpong
- Start date
Hi, if I was in your situation I would ask to get appointment with the practice Manager. I would ask to change doctor within the practice. I hope you have Power of Attorney
So the POAs stipulate she has to have lost capacity in order for you to start using them?
My mother's was set up so that she just had to confirm to the solicitor that she wanted him to release the POA so I could begin using it, no capacity assessment required, fortunately.
My mother's was set up so that she just had to confirm to the solicitor that she wanted him to release the POA so I could begin using it, no capacity assessment required, fortunately.
I have Power of Attorney but not recognised until she is deemed to be incapable of making her own decisions, ie capacity assessment needs to be done - everything is already registered with Court of Protection some 15 years ago but she is deemed to be capable until deemed incapable! I have never met this GP before and he is head of the practice.
Sadly it all hinges on the capacity assessment, everybody is too afraid to make a decision or an effort - seems my mother's rights are paramount, even though she doesn't know she has dementia. She is deemed to be capable and no one is going to deem her as incapable. What a sad indictment of political correctness. I am here to save her from herself but not able to.
It's not easy is it BluTinks. Have everything in place but need Capacity Assessment to set things in motion - not forthcoming.
I was able to take my mum to see the GP and he gave her a quick test that took 5 minutes and then she was referred to a specialist at the hospital who then contacted the memory team who visited us at home,that was 2 years ago so things must have changed then
Getting someone to check for mental capacity seems to be becoming an increasingly difficult problem.
Im sure I read on here about someone who got an Independent Mental Capacity Assessor to do it. I dont know anything about this and Im sure you would have to pay, but it might be worthwhile looking into it.
Im sure I read on here about someone who got an Independent Mental Capacity Assessor to do it. I dont know anything about this and Im sure you would have to pay, but it might be worthwhile looking into it.
