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Mental capacity campaign group the Making Decisions Alliance has welcomed the code of practice on the Mental Capacity Act 2005, published this week, but said it must be accompanied by a culture change in services.

Its chair, Turning Point director of policy Richard Kramer, said the code, which provides a guide for practitioners on implementing the act’s provisions, had to be combined with “a change of attitude and approach towards a person’s right to make their own decisions”.

He also called for more training to help implement the act, which is designed to give vulnerable people the support to make their own decisions if at all possible, and ensure decisions taken on behalf of those who lack capacity are taken in their best interests.

The alliance, which includes 40 charities, campaigned for such legislation to be put on the statute books to safeguard the rights of people deemed to lack capacity.