Psychiatric Bulletin (2000) 24: 52-54. doi: 10.1192/pb.24.2.52
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Psychiatric Bulletin (2000) 24: 52-54
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

In the light of Bournewood. Changes in the management of elderly incapacitated patients

Norma Kearney, Specialist Registrar in Old Age Psychiatry

Guy's, King's and St Thomas's Medical School and Oxleas NHS Trust, Upton Day Hospital, 14 Upton Road, Kent DA6 8LQ

Adrian Treloar, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry

Guy's, King's and St Thomas's Medical School and Oxleas NHS Trust, Room 19, Memorial Hospital, Shooters Hill, London SE18 3RZ

AIMS AND METHOD

A postal audit of practice in the South-East Thames Region of England before and after the Bournewood judgements.

RESULTS

There was a trebling in the rate of admission under section of elderly incapacitated patients occurred prior to the House of Lords' ruling. By the time of the ruling many consultants had not changed their practice. There is now, however, no impact of the ruling upon clinical practice. The majority of consultants remain concerned about the lack of safeguards for mentally incapacitated elders at the present time.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Although the Bournewood judgement was expected by some to have a permanent impact upon the management of the mentally incapacitated this has not happened. There is a need for effective and resource efficient safeguards for the mentally incapacitated to be developed.




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