7th June 2021

An 89-year-old woman is an inpatient on a Care of the Elderly ward

An 89-year-old woman is an inpatient on a Care of the Elderly ward, receiving treatment for community-acquired pneumonia. She has a past medical history which includes Alzheimer’s disease and lives at home with her husband and adult daughter – who is her full-time carer. The patient has become increasingly agitated on the ward, and repeatedly tries to leave – she is receiving intravenous antibiotics, and the medical team do not think she can be safely discharged. The nursing team ask for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) to be put in.

Which of the following statements about DoLS is correct?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.