Advance Planning Service

A Last­ing Power of At­tor­ney (LPA) is a legal document that grants someone you trust the au­thor­ity to make health­care de­cisions in your best interests should you lose the ca­pa­city to do so. Or, an LPA can be used to allow someone you trust to make fin­an­cial de­cisions on your behalf should you lack the ca­pa­city or desire to do so.  

Our team are trained to do the following:

• Provide initial impartial advice about the process of making a Lasting power of attorney.
• Discuss fees and exemptions
• Complete the forms with the carers.
• Support them with registering the documents

This is a free service, but there is often a significant waiting list due to high demand for the service.

An Advance Decision allows you to write down any medical treatments that you do not want to have in the future, in case you later become unable to make or communicate decisions for yourself. It will only be used if you cannot make or communicate a decision for yourself. This is a legal document and is also known as an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment, and it is also sometimes called a Living Will or an Advance Directive. 

Advance Decisions are legally binding in England and Wales, as long as they meet certain requirements. 

This means that if a healthcare professional knows you have made an Advance Decision, they have to follow it. If they ignore an Advance Decision then they could be taken to court.

An Advance Statement allows you to record your wishes, feelings, beliefs and values. You can include anything that is important to you in relation to your health and wellbeing, for example your food preferences, religious or spiritual views, your daily routine, where you would like to be cared for (for instance, at home, in a hospice, in hospital or in a residential home). 

It is also helpful to include information about the things that are important to your quality of life, for example hobbies, pastimes or spending time with your family.

Find out more about making and using a lasting power of attorney and other future planning tools:

Lasting Power of Attorney

Advance Decisions

Advance Statements