Panic stricken - notification of initial CHC meeting received.

[Saffie]

Perhaps your application was straightforward or even automatic whereas my husband's is more like an appeal as he was refused the funding over 2 years ago. One needs evidence and without LPA or Deputyship, this is difficult to obtain without medical notes and these require one or the other.

 

[J W]

Yes i see, i would not be able to see evidence in the future without deputyship, more hurdles to jump yet for us then. oh well.

 

[Saffie]

To be honest, as I have said in my posts, I'm not sure just how much value the hospital notes will be in my husband's case but I was advised to get access to them. Regarding the CHC team wanting to have proof of my Deputyship, I am able to send them this so it isn't something that is worrying me unduly as I have enough to do that already!

Regarding your own Deputyship application not being completed, perhaps you might never have need of it. There are a number of things I could not have done without it though. Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[sue38]

Although we had an EPA for my dad (which only covers financial matters) we were never asked for any evidence of this.

The framework says:

80. The multidisciplinary assessment that informs completion of the Decision Support Tool should be carried out with the knowledge and consent of the individual, and they should be given every opportunity to participate in the assessment. The individual should be given the option of being supported or represented by a carer, relative or advocate, if they so wish. The assessment process should draw on those who have direct knowledge of the individual and their needs. It should also make use of existing specialist assessments, and should make referrals for other specialist assessments whenever that is appropriate in light of the individual’s care needs.

I'm really not sure why they are asking to see a copy of your Deputyship order, which I think is financial not welfare. The magnanimous side of me (although I'm not sure I have one) says they're just ticking every box they can think of. The cynical side of me (and I definitely have one of those) says they're putting up barriers which don't exist.

Whereas I don't advocate being awkward for awkward's sake, I do think there comes a time to take a stand and ask them to play by the rules, and to make it clear you know the rules. You're Dave's wife, and that's all the paperwork you need to be involved in the assessment.

 

[Saffie]

The cynical side of me (and I definitely have one of those) says they're putting up barriers which don't exist.

To be honest, I don't think they are. I may be very naive and I am inclined to take people as I find them but the lady who rang was very pleasant and just asked if I could pop a copy of the dociument in the post for the attention of herself which I have done. It wasn't a big deal.

I certainly don't think I could have accessed the medical records without the authority. In fact, the GP said I wouldn't be able to have their records but I by-passed her and went direct to the Practice manager, enclosing a copy of the Deputyship document.

By law, you have to have the written permission of the person whose records they are. So that means either LPA or Deputyship. Financial is fine as this is to do with financial matters rather than health or welfare matters. In both applications to access the records, I explained why I wanted access i.e. to gather evidence relating to the application for CHC funding as I was acting in my husband's best interests.

I remain convinced that it's all a bit of a wasted excercise anyway as I really don't think Dave will qualify. However, I will have at last done my best for him.