Dad on 28 day pathway? Any info please

[kentishgirl]

Hi

Dad was admitted to hospital yesterday. We are all taking it in turns to visit/support Mum so I won't be there for a couple of days. I'm told by bro (there today) that Dad's been put on a 28 Day pathway so he'll be in hospital for that long, and after that the social workers will decide what happens to him and we don't have any say.

I can't find any information on this anywhere - help please.

Is it a general or psychiatric hospital? it is extremely unlikely that family would not have any say in discharge planning

It's a general hospital. A small community one.

I'll be there Friday and will ask about this pathway thing - Mum doesn't understand it so can't fill me in. But bro seemed to think that's it, down to social workers now. I can't believe we (and Mum and Dad) won't have a say.

Thank you for replying.

Dad has Alzheimers so they might have decided he can't make his own decisions. We don't have POA as parents refused to do one. Is it automatically the social workers in that case?

If your father is deemed not to have capacity to make decisions then the hospital have a legal duty to arrange a best interests meeting and invite family members ie your mother who is likely to be regarded as your father's advocate and any other family members she wishes to be present. The views of all those attending the meeting and the final decision reached will be recorded by the social worker.