CORONAVIRUS UPDATE APRIL 2021

A message to our clients:

With the recent move to allow shops and offices to fully re-open, we will continue to review our policy on clients attending our offices. Currently, we are not inviting clients into the office but we are able to briefly meet with clients by appointment at the door of the office. Please note that face coverings are still required indoors until further notice. We remain committed to following the Government guidelines as rules continue to change in line with the easing of lockdown.

We continue to operate our business as usual across all the services that we offer our clients, both current and prospective.

We continue to offer teleconference-based or telephone consultations.. We are aware that not everyone has been offered full vaccination yet and understand that some people may feel safer continuing with socially distanced communications.

Our family and wills / probate solicitors continue to offer initial advice remotely by video conferencing and by telephone for up to one hour (as advertised on this website). Please call us if you would like to speak to one of our experts.

If you have a case in court, please telephone us so we can discuss representation.

We appreciate your patience, support and understanding over the past year since the restrictions related to the pandemic began. We hope you continue to stay safe, and wish you a brighter 2021!

Talk to a solicitor today 0117 973 1391
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CQC Investigation into Do Not Attempt Rescuscitate (DNAR) orders

Uncategorised, Wills & Probate

Care Quality Commission (CQC)  investigation into Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitate (DNAR) orders during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The CQC’s review into the application of Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitate (DNAR) orders during the Covid-19 pandemic has been published on 3rd December 2020 and reveals incorrect and ageist use. As a firm of solicitors specialising in supporting older and vulnerable people, we know that, sadly, this is nothing new.

It’s horrifying to think about DNAR orders being applied to groups of vulnerable people. This isn’t how they should be used and however stretched our health and care services are, this kind of disregard for older people cannot and should not be tolerated.

Best practice guidelines have been set out by the Resuscitation Council UK, but they aren’t being followed everywhere. Clinicians need to do better here. Too often it’s ignored or treated as a tick box exercise rather than prompting meaningful consultation with patients and loved ones.

There is clearly a need for all of us to initiate our own conversations about whether we’d want CPR, and also about our wider care wishes. Once we’re in an emergency situation it’s often too late.

Worryingly, only 59% of those aged 70+ have talked to loved ones about their care wishes. And whilst 81% of us think planning ahead for later life is important, only 22% of us have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, setting out our wishes in writing in a legally binding way.

As a country, we must start talking about our wishes should we lose mental and / or physical capacity or require emergency medical treatment. This recent investigation into the use of DNARs must encourage us all to have those difficult, but vital conversations, no matter our age.

If you would like to discuss this further and enquire about arranging a Lasting Power of Attorney then please do get in touch on 01179 731 391 or email [email protected].