Dad fell 5 weeks ago and was in hospital for ten days, followed by a couple of weeks intermediary care. He's now in a care home of our choice, initially for a month but hopefully longer. He's in the process of being assessed by the mental health team (everything points to vascular dementia).
We have power of attorney for health and welfare. Dad's current care home would like to see the discharge notes because they think it would enable them to give him better, more tailored, care. But dad is still registered with the GP in his home town, and unless he becomes a permanent resident of the home then that's how it'll stay for now. The GP's practice is being 'difficult' about releasing the information. I guess I'm wondering if:
(a) the care home really DO need the discharge notes (is it normal practice?)
(b) can the GP refuse to release the notes even though we have POA?
Does anyone have experience of this?
Oh... and I did ask the care home where dad was placed for intermediary care if there were any transfer notes to take with him when he moved, but they said no. So the new care home has essentially no information about dad's medical needs, aside from the medication he was prescribed in hospital and any information that family can provide...
We have power of attorney for health and welfare. Dad's current care home would like to see the discharge notes because they think it would enable them to give him better, more tailored, care. But dad is still registered with the GP in his home town, and unless he becomes a permanent resident of the home then that's how it'll stay for now. The GP's practice is being 'difficult' about releasing the information. I guess I'm wondering if:
(a) the care home really DO need the discharge notes (is it normal practice?)
(b) can the GP refuse to release the notes even though we have POA?
Does anyone have experience of this?
Oh... and I did ask the care home where dad was placed for intermediary care if there were any transfer notes to take with him when he moved, but they said no. So the new care home has essentially no information about dad's medical needs, aside from the medication he was prescribed in hospital and any information that family can provide...
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