Lasting Power of Attorneys

[JamesGreen]

Has anyone considered a LPA? i've heard I can't speak to doctors on my partners behalf without one?

You can’t anyway unless they lose capacity. However, should you get one, yes, everyone who is ageing (and majority who aren’t) should.

You don't need a LPA to speak to a GP on partners behalf but your partner does need to give written consent to the surgery for this to be added to your partners records.

As for hospital doctors - if there is no LPA then all medical decisions red to be discussed with the person receiving the care.

It's worth getting anyway, it's not just related to age. Your partner could fall off a bus, get a brain injury, and become incapacitated.

There are two LPAs , financial and health. You can download the forms from GOV.UK, complete them, have them signed by various people and then submit them. I think once submitted you CANNOT change them.

Of course you can change them. Is a faff though, you need to cancel the old one and submit a new one.

I don't have the health one but do have the financial one.

DH and I got them for each other a few years ago as we have both had to enact them for our parents and realise how important they are.

The reason for not having the health one is because we feel doctors typically do what is right for that person.

Financially though it's a nightmare without one when trying to talk to any organisation hence prioritising that one.