Advance statements and planning ahead
Can I say now how I want to be treated later?
An advance statement is your written wishes about your care if you become unwell. Professionals should consider it. It is not legally binding.
Being checked by an independent advocate before it goes live.
The short version
- You can write down what helps, what doesn’t, who to involve and how you want to be treated.
- It can cover practical things too: children, pets, bills, faith, diet and who has your keys.
- Professionals should take it into account, but they don’t have to follow it.
- An advance decision to refuse treatment is different. It has strict legal rules. Speak to an advocate or a solicitor if you want one.
What you can do
- Write a plan with an Ownsay peer, in your own words.
- Decide who gets a copy: your GP, your care team, or someone you trust.
- Review it every six months, and after any hospital stay.
This is general information about the law in England. It is not advice about your own situation. For that, speak to an independent mental health advocate or a solicitor who specialises in mental health law.
