Mental Capacity Assessments

GPs are sometimes asked to make Mental Capacity Assessments for patients. These assessments may be requested for a variety of different reasons. As GPs it is essential that we are able to assess capacity when arranging medical investigations and treatments for our patients. However capacity assessments relating to overall welfare, finances and property are often more complex and sit outside our expertise. Decisions such as whether someone’s house is sold or how their life savings are spent can depend on capacity assessments. It is therefore essential that those carrying out these assessments are highly trained and experienced in this area. Capacity assessments for legal purposes also fall outside the NHS care provided by GPs. Some GPs may perform these assessments privately for a fee, and there are other professionals who can make these assessments including some solicitors and psychiatrists.

As a surgery we do not feel that we currently have the capacity or expertise to offer Mental Capacity Assessments for legal purposes for our patients. We realise that this policy may cause inconvenience but hope you understand that our priority must be to our core NHS duties as a healthcare provider.