caring Communication

General
News
conference streamed live
due to massive demand
Over 500 HSE delegates attended a major
HSE conference to create awareness of the
Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act
2015 has which just been passed by
the Oireachtas. The conference
was also streamed live to staff
throughout the country such
was the massive interest in
the event.
The Assisted Decision
Making Act 2015 applies to
everyone in the HSE and has
relevance for all health and
social care services.
The conference was organised
by the HSE Quality Improvement Division
and focused on the Act, its implications,
challenges and opportunities for health and
social care professionals. The Conference
was aimed at clinicians, managers and staff
who are involved in planning, managing or
delivering services to patients, service users
or clients across health and social care settings.
This conference brought together key
Irish and UK experts to inform clinicians, staff
and managers about the legislation and to
explore the impact this Act will have on current
practice.
“It was fantastic to see so much interest in
the conference as it starts the HSE process
of preparedness for the commencement of
the Act in December 2016,” said Dr Philip
Crowley, National Director, HSE Quality Improvement
Division.
“We plan to consult as widely as possible
about how the Act affects us in the HSE and
this is the start of the consultation process.
Our aim is to make sure that all training needs
and supports are in place to ease the implementation
of the act, when it is commenced.
This is the first in a series of actions planned
for 2016,” he said.
Speakers at the conference included Patricia
Rickard-Clarke, Solicitor and former Law
Reform Commissioner, Dr Siobhán O’Sullivan,
Chief Bioethics Officer, Department of Health
and The Hon Justice Baker, Judge of the High
Court of Justice (Family Division) England
and Wales.
The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity)
Act 2015 -All Health and Social Care professionals
should familiarise themselves with
it and the following key points have been
drafted as a brief guide.
The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity)
Act 2015:
Applies to everyone and to all health and
social care settings.
Provides for the individual’s right of autonomy
and self-determination to be respected
through an Enduring Power of Attorney
and an Advance Healthcare Directive
– made when a person has
capacity to come into effect
when they may lack decision-making
capacity.
Provides for legally recognised
decision-makers
to support a person maximise
their decision making
powers.
Places a legal requirement
on service providers to comprehensively
enable a person make a decision
through the provision of a range of supports
and information appropriate to their condition.
Abolishes the Wards of Court system.
Provides for a review of all existing wards
to either discharge them fully or to transition
those who still need assistance to the new
structure.
Repeals the Lunacy regulations governing
the Ward of Court system.
Establishes a Decision Support Service
with clearly defined functions which will include
the promotion of public awareness relating
to the exercise of capacity by persons
who may require assistance in exercising
their capacity.
The Director of the Decision Support
Service will have the power to investigate
complaints in relation to any action by a decision-maker
in relation to their functions as
such decision-maker.
Visit www.assisteddecisionmaking.ie for
more information, conference papers and to
watch the conference.
INSET: Hon Justice Baker; TOP: Dr Rosarie McCarthy; ABOVE: Justice Catherine McGuinness speaks to Dr Philip
Crowley.
60 | health matters | spring 2016