Review of 25,000 in care required as law on consent changes

Thousands of elderly and vulnerable people in nursing homes and other residential facilities are being detained without legal authority and will have to have their cases reviewed by the courts or specialist tribunals, writes Caroline O’Doherty.

Thousands of elderly and vulnerable people in nursing homes and other residential facilities are being detained without legal authority and will have to have their cases reviewed by the courts or specialist tribunals, writes Caroline O’Doherty.

The anomaly — thought to involve 25,000 nursing home residents and thousands more in other residential settings — came to light during preparations for the implementation of new laws giving people with restricted decision-making capacity more say in their care.