University College London Hospitals MCA Conference, 31st January 2017

Featured article - 20 February 2017
By Betsey Lau-Robinson, University College London NHS Foundation Trust Lead for Safeguarding Adults & the MCA

We are very pleased to report that University College London NHS Foundation Trust held a very successful Mental Capacity Act Conference for Acute Hospitals on the 31sT January 2017 at our Education Centre in Euston Road, London. It was the largest conference we have held with attendees from across England & Wales. There was a wide ranging representation of professionals from: NHS England Regional Leads, Safeguarding & MCA leads from acute hospitals and CCG’s, medical, GP’s, dentists, nursing, social workers, community Health, Allied Health professionals , Ambulance Services, Higher Education Institutions, Public Health etc. Professor, the Baroness Finlay of Llandoff, Chair of the National Mental Capacity Forum (NMCF), presented a keynote speech on the achievements of the NMCF first year: Listening to the “Voice of the Person”, the work of the Leadership Group in engaging with the MCA Implementation Group to raise awareness and lead on change, the NMCF Action Day in March 2016 and a follow up event on the 27th February this year. She emphasized the priorities for the future: provide easy to understand messages to support decision making, awareness of LPA’s especially in neglected areas like prisons, utilities, banks and financial services. She reiterated the major role carers play as important sources of information to support people with dementia, transition, learning difficulties and other vulnerable groups. The President of the Family Courts, Judge Sir James Munby gave a welcomed keynote lecture on the MCA.

The President of the Family Courts, Judge Sir James Munby gave a welcomed keynote lecture on the MCA. He discussed current case laws and its implications to practice. He empathised with the challenges experienced by Health and said Courts understand that the legal process is in need of a review to enable court referrals to be more timely and less resource/ cost intensive. We were privileged to receive an exclusive update from Alex Ruck Keene, Essex Chambers on the R (Ferreira) v HM Senior Coroner for Inner London (20`17) EWCA Div 31 regarding deprivation of liberty in the intensive care settings. This is a significant landmark case which would help to support health professionals to effectively apply the safeguards in the acute emergency settings. Subject expert speakers from Hempsons, medical, mental health and nursing staff presented powerful case studies which included Permanent Vegetative State, deliberate Self Harm, the Mental Health and MCA interface, challenges in the acute hospital, concepts on professional accountability(agency and authenticity) and ethics, consenting and unwise decision making.

The President of the Family Courts, Judge Sir James Munby gave a welcomed keynote lecture on the MCA. He discussed current case laws and its implications to practice. He empathised with the challenges experienced by Health and said Courts understand that the legal process is in need of a review to enable court referrals to be more timely and less resource/ cost intensive. We were privileged to receive an exclusive update from Alex Ruck Keene, Essex Chambers on the R (Ferreira) v HM Senior Coroner for Inner London (20`17) EWCA Div 31 regarding deprivation of liberty in the intensive care settings. This is a significant landmark case which would help to support health professionals to effectively apply the safeguards in the acute emergency settings. Subject expert speakers from Hempsons, medical, mental health and nursing staff presented powerful case studies which included Permanent Vegetative State, deliberate Self Harm, the Mental Health and MCA interface, challenges in the acute hospital, concepts on professional accountability(agency and authenticity) and ethics, consenting and unwise decision making.

We would like to say a massive thank you to NHS England for kindly funding this conference which contributed to it being such an outstanding success. Finally, a very special thank you to the presenters and our fellow professionals who travelled from all over England and Wales to make this day so successful!

• The National Mental Capacity Forum