Thanks, Christine
For an update: I spent most of yesterday on the phone, having had the most awful day on Sunday at the mental health unit where my aunt is being assessed. It seems to me that the reply you get depends on who you talk to.
For example: I contacted PALS and the person I spoke to was quite adamant that I would not be allowed access even to know about the list of meds, because of the dreaded and often mis-quoted Data Protection Act. She phoned me back and told me that she had talked to a nurse friend, who had confirmed that she would never grant access either. BUT I think they both failed to understand that my aunt has only 2 living relatives left who care - it is not as if a queue of distant cousins or something are likely to want access.
Then I walked with the Lead Nurse at the unit, and she apologised for the way I had been dismissed on Sunday! She agreed that I should have such questions answered, and I also talked to the doctor in charge, and she answered all my questions. So it just goes to show that you get different stories, depending on different interpretations of 'next of kin' and the Data Protection Act.
As for the Mental Capacity Act: couldn't agree more with your view and your experience. I have read a fair bit of it and it is - as far as I can see - designed to protect the salaried care workers, the social workers, the medics. I cannot for the life of me see that it is in any way at all designed to ASSIST those of us who are in a position of wanting to help relatives.
More phone calls today to deal with other aspects. But first a trip to the hairdressers!!
Bye