Department of Health publishes Mental Capacity Advocacy Service report 

Key issues discussed in the document include:

• 27% increase on last year of number of people receiving representation from the IMCA service (6582 people received representation)  
• 3496 representations were for decisions on accommodation moves- an increase of 14% over the last year.
• 387 were represented in care reviews; this is an increase of 102% from a low base.
• 968 people were represented in decisions about serious medical treatment, which is a 43% increase
• 960 were represented in adult protection proceedings, which is a 29% increase.
• DH is pleased that there has been an increase in referrals, to reflect the greater awareness of the IMCA service.
• Concern remains about the continuing low referral levels for serious medical decisions in the NHS.
• Concern also remains about the low level of adult protection referrals. It is not clear that local authorities understand they must consider for each adult protection referral received whether the individual would benefit from an IMCA.

Read the report http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_110548.pdf