title: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards in England: implementation costs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), introduced into the Mental Capacity Act 2005, were fully implemented on 1 April 2009 in England and Wales. The government estimated 20 000 assessments for DoLS at a cost of £600 per assessment. Aims To estimate the costs likely to be incurred with the implementation of DoLS in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cost of conducting a single DoLS assessment was estimated using resource-utilisation data ascertained from 37 professionals, secretarial staff and independent mental capacity advocates involved with DoLS assessments in six diverse local DoLS offices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estimated average cost of a single DoLS assessment was £1277.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The estimated average cost of a single DoLS assessment was significantly higher than the £600 estimated by the government. However, the allocated budget, based on 20 000 estimated DoLS assessments in the first year of its implementation, is likely to be adequate because a significantly lower number of assessments (only 5200) were conducted in the first 9 months after its implementation.
authors.affiliation: West London Mental Health NHS Trust, Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex UB1 3EU, UK. ajitshah123@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pennington
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heginbotham
authors.forename: Cam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donaldson
mesh_terms: D032781:Codes of Ethics; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004739:England; D005610:Freedom; D033161:Government Regulation; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014852:Wales