Date of Request: 19/07/2016
Date of Disclosure:
Request and Response
Please find Devon County Council’s response in bold to each of your questions below:
- How many DoLS standard applications have been received in the last 5 years?
A total of 7064 requests for Standard applications have been received.
Of these 4180 were received from care homes and 2875 from hospital settings
- How many DoLS urgent applications have been received in the last 5 years?
A total of 2875 Urgent applications were issued by Managing Authorities. Of these 2029 were issued by care homes and 160 by hospitals
For both of the above questions:
Please can I have a breakdown by financial year.
If possible please can this include a breakdown of the circumstances of the DOLS setting i.e. ITU, inpatient facility, mental health facility, community setting i.e. care home, individuals home.
processing time by the authorising organisation
The following chart gives a breakdown of the last 5 years by financial year:
| Setting | Urgent | 2011- 12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 |
| Care Home | Yes | 64 | 75 | 78 | 667 | 779 |
| No | 46 | 52 | 53 | 1777 | 1661 | |
| Hospital | Yes | 56 | 56 | 40 | 209 | 343 |
| No | 7 | 7 | 9 | 28 | 75 |
3) What is your guidance for when to submit a DoLS application e.g. I understand that due to the volume of applications a practical approach has been taken to limit the number of less than 7 day applications?
We advise that all Managing Authorities should make an application when they believe someone may be experiencing a deprivation of their liberty. So if the individual appears to lack capacity in relation to residing in the unit for the purpose of receiving care and treatment and are not free to leave.
We do now maintain a waiting list. As a result all applications are rigorously triaged on receipt so that the situations of the highest concern are identified and prioritised for assessment.