Courts facing influx of loss of liberty dementia cases

Posted By: James

Thursday 10th July 2014

The courts are facing an influx of tens of thousands of cases that will determine whether dementia sufferers and other vulnerable people are being held lawfully. Following a landmark Supreme Court ruling in March, thousands of people in care homes, hospitals or at home with care from the local authority must now have their detention authorised. Mr Justice Charles, vice-president of the Court of Protection, said that the ruling had potential for a "huge amount" of extra cases - with estimates of up to 100,000 - each involving the detention of a person under the responsibility of the state. Some would be dealt with on paper but others would require hearings. Sir James Munby, the president of the Court of Protection, will decide how the workload should be handled. Local authorities have already predicted that they will have to make about 94,000 applications to the court this year, compared with 10,050 last year, and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has estimated that the bill for all councils in England and Wales will exceed £70m.The Times, Page: 4

 

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