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Written question asked by Shivani Raja (Conservative) on Friday, 29 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 June 2026. It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Monday, 29 June 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Powers of Attorney

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department issues to NHS trusts on the verification of (a) Lasting Powers of Attorney and (b) Enduring Powers of Attorney; and whether trusts are required to accept certified copies in lieu of original documents.

Answer

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983 and their respective statutory codes of practice lay out the guidance for National Health Service trusts regarding Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA), including verification through the Office of Public Guardian (OPG).

The OPG provides online guidance on the verification of an LPA and EPA on the GOV.UK website, which is available to NHS trusts. This includes the online “Use and View an LPA” service for LPAs registered on or after 1 January 2016. This service allows attorneys to provide a digital access code through which organisations, including NHS trusts, can digitally verify that the LPA is registered, and view details of the attorneys authorised to act. The OPG guidance also provides that if the LPA cannot be shared via the “Use and View an LPA” service, an attorney may present an office or certified paper copy to the institution, to use the LPA.

NHS trusts are also bound by the Equality Act 2010 to make relevant reasonable adjustments where appropriate which would cover attorneys acting under an LPA.

The Department does not hold information on individual LPA or EPA verification outcomes in NHS trusts.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
4387
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
NHS trusts Powers of attorney
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk