Five Signs Your MDT Assessment May Not Have Reflected Your Relative's Needs
When your relative has an NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) assessment, you want it to provide a fair and accurate picture of the care they need.
Sometimes, families leave the meeting feeling uncertain. Perhaps there wasn’t enough time to discuss everything, your concerns weren’t fully heard, or the recommendation didn’t seem to reflect the level of support your relative needs every day.
Feeling this way doesn’t necessarily mean the assessment was incorrect. However, if you have concerns, it’s important to recognise the signs that something may have been missed and know what to do next.
If you’re new to the process, our guide What is an MDT Meeting? explains how the assessment works. If you’re preparing for an assessment, you may also find Are You Getting the Most Out of the Multi-Disciplinary Team Assessment? helpful.
Why Families Sometimes Have Concerns After an MDT Assessment
Each MDT assessment is unique, and many are conducted thoroughly and fairly. However, it is not uncommon for families to leave with unanswered questions.
Your knowledge of your relative provides valuable insight into their daily care needs. If the discussion did not reflect their everyday challenges, it is reasonable to question whether the assessment captured the full picture.
Five Signs Your MDT Assessment May Not Have Reflected Your Relative’s Needs
1. The meeting felt rushed
An MDT assessment should provide sufficient time to discuss all aspects of your relative’s health and social care needs.
If the discussion moved quickly from one topic to another or important issues weren’t explored in enough detail, you may feel the assessment didn’t fully reflect the complexity of their situation.
2. Your perspective wasn’t fully considered
Family members often notice changes that professionals may miss during appointments or brief observations.
You may have observed increasing confusion, changes in behaviour, frequent falls, of fluctuations in the level of support your relative needs throughout the day. This insight provides valuable context for the assessment.
If you didn’t have the opportunity to share your observations, or they didn’t appear to be taken into account, it’s reasonable to question whether the assessment reflected your relative’s needs accurately.
3. It didn’t reflect everyday life
Many conditions fluctuate, so care needs can change throughout the day or from one day to the next.
An MDT assessment should consider the overall pattern of need, rather than relying on how someone appeared during a single meeting.
If your loved one was having a particularly good day, the assessment may not have captured their usual difficulties.
4. Different views weren’t properly explored
An MDT assessment brings together professionals with different expertise and the valuable knowledge of family members to build a complete picture of a person’s care needs.
If it felt as though one opinion carried more weight than others, or differing views weren’t discussed openly, you may be concerned that important information wasn’t fully considered.
5. You weren’t clear about how the recommendation was reached
Even if you disagree with the outcome, you should understand how the recommendation was made.
If you left the meeting unsure why certain conclusions were reached or how evidence was considered, it is appropriate to ask for an explanation.
Understanding the decision-making process can help you determine whether the recommendation accurately reflects your relative’s needs.
What Should You Do If You’re Worried?
If any of these signs sound familiar, don’t assume there’s nothing you can do.
Start by asking the NHS team to explain how the recommendation was reached, especially if you believe important information was not considered or you need clarification about the evidence used.
If you remain concerned, independent advice can help you determine whether the assessment accurately reflected your relative’s care needs and what options are available.
How Farley Dwek Can Help
Farley Dwek has extensive experience supporting families through the NHS Continuing Healthcare process.
We can review your situation, advise as to any procedural failings, assess whether the assessment reflects your relative’s needs, and provide clear, practical guidance on next steps.
If you are concerned about an MDT assessment or would like expert advice, contact our team today to discuss your circumstances.
