Mental Capacity Act 2005: Views and experiences of learning disability psychiatrists

Abstract

AIMS AND METHOD: Postal questionnaires were sent out to 66 learning disability psychiatrists to assess their knowledge and experience of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. RESULTS: A response rate of 55% (n = 36) was achieved; 22 (61%) respondents felt that patient care had improved; 16 (44%) felt workload had increased. Despite 79% (n = 23) of the respondents feeling that the training for the Act was adequate, only 19% (n = 7) were aware of the situations where patients had to be referred to the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service and only 53% (n = 19) were aware that the Act currently does not cover patients who fall in the 'Bournewood gap'. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Learning disability psychiatrists are still not conversant with significant parts of the Act and this raises questions about the adequacy of the training delivered. Implementing the Act should improve patient care but will have implications for the workload of professionals.