COVID-19 UK: Coronavirus And DoLS ' Guidance For Acute Trusts

• Published date: 04 May 2020
• Author: Ms Judith Duffin
• Subject Matter: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Government Measures
• Law Firm: Clyde & Co

The Coronavirus Act 2020 was passed without any amendments to the MCA 2005 or the DoLS process. In short, the MCA 2005 and the current DoLS structures remain in place during the pandemic but there will be significant practical issues arising in adhering to these structures.

It was recognised at Second Reading of the Coronavirus Bill in the House of Lords that emergency guidance would be needed and "significantly improve the process". This guidance is expected imminently from DHSC and if and when this guidance is provided, it should be followed. The House of Lords anticipated that such emergency guidance would make "clearer when a deprivation of liberty safeguards authorisation is necessary, and the basis on which an assessment can be made, including, for example, phone or video calling for assessment."

In deciding not to alter DoLS safeguards in primary legislation there was a recognition that "we have to strike a careful balance between the need to protect some of the most vulnerable in our society with preventing the spread of the virus."

As matters stand the MCA and DoLS must be complied with in the usual way. The current changes through the Coronavirus Act 2020 have only incidental relevance. For example, retired healthcare professionals returning to the front line will need urgent guidance on current practice and procedures. You should therefore ensure that your guidance and procedure documents are up to date so that staff can be brought up to speed quickly. In practical terms, if assessments are being conducted by these new staff, copies of previous assessments and reports should be made available to them.

In terms of guidance already issued by the DHSC the "COVID-19 Hospital Discharge Service Requirements" ("the Requirements") issued on 19 March 2020 clearly states that the MCA 2005 continues to apply during the pandemic, but does not provide any specific clarification. The Requirements states:

"If a person is suspected to lack the relevant mental capacity to make the decisions about their ongoing care and treatment, a capacity assessment should be carried out before decision about their discharge is made. Where the person is assessed to lack the relevant mental capacity and a decision needs to be made then there must be a best interest decision made for their ongoing care...