Yesterday (12 Nov) we held the first of a series of webinars focusing on protecting our vulnerable and elders.
Lead by Natalie Marrison, Head of Abuse and Personal Injury, the discussion heard from Helen Wall - dual qualified Registered General Nurse and Community Practitioner Nurse Prescriber, Leila Benyounes – barrister at Parklane Plowden specialising in inquests and clinical negligence and Natalie Lang, partner in Court of Protection at Ramsdens. The session was intended to help highlight and understand the red flags when it comes to care for our vulnerable and elders.
Naturally, COVID 19 was the reoccurring theme of today’s talk and how this has added to and impacted on the care provided to the vulnerable and elderly.
The highlights from today, with a focus on what private client practitioners can look out for, were;
- Look at the overall picture concerning your clients claim;
- Try and understand the background of circumstances leading to the life event or death;
- Consider blanket decisions as a red flag to be investigated;
- Consider the death certificate and causes of death.
In all of this we need to keep in mind whether decisions have been made with the client/patients best interests in mind.
At the moment it is unpalatable to consider a claim against the NHS or a care home but we have to consider the bigger picture. In any claim made, it is more about the lessons that can be learnt and to encourage new practices to be put in place so that others do not suffer in the same way.
If you are a private client practitioner and wish to discuss any concerns you have when dealing with a life event or death on behalf of a client, please do not hesitate to contact either our Abuse and Personal Injury or our Court of Protection teams on 01484 821 500 or email info@ramsdens.co.uk.