Why a Lasting Power of Attorney Could Help Protect Our Healthcare System

12th June 2025

After spending a few days soaking up the energy and innovation at London Tech Week, one insight we took from a talk led by Caroline Cake, CEO at Neu Health, on the work they do there stood out more than anything else: people with a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place tend to receive better, more timely care, and that’s something that could make a real difference to our stretched healthcare infrastructure.

It’s not just about paperwork or planning ahead. Having an LPA means decisions can be made without delay, stress, or confusion. When someone loses the ability to make choices for themselves, whether due to dementia, stroke, or sudden illness, an LPA allows their trusted loved ones to step in immediately. No court applications. No guessing. No waiting.

And what happens when those decisions can be made quickly and confidently? People stay out of hospital for longer. Care can be arranged sooner. Treatment can begin without hold-ups. There’s less panic, fewer unnecessary admissions, and far less risk of vulnerable people falling through the cracks of a system already under pressure.

That’s what really struck me this week.

We talk a lot about innovation in healthtech, data, and AI, but there’s a simpler lever to pull that’s right in front of us. Legal readiness. If more families had LPA arrangements in place, we’d see faster responses to emerging care needs. We’d reduce avoidable A&E visits. And we’d empower families to give their loved ones the kind of care they really want.

We spoke to a few people at the event who’d been through this first-hand – some who had LPAs ready and found it made a huge difference, and others who hadn’t and were left in limbo when a parent or partner became unwell. The contrast couldn’t be more stark.

What this tells us is that getting an LPA isn’t just a personal decision, it’s a social one too. When individuals are empowered to take control of their health and finances, the whole system benefits. Families feel less overwhelmed. Professionals know who to speak to. Time isn’t wasted in bureaucracy or legal grey areas.

At Power of Attorney Online, we’ve always focused on making the LPA process quick, clear, and accessible. But coming away from London Tech Week, we’re more convinced than ever that this isn’t just a convenience, it can also be a public health measure.

So if you’ve been putting off sorting an LPA for yourself or a loved one, maybe it’s time to take that step. It’s not just about peace of mind, it’s about giving the people who care about you the tools to act fast when it matters most.

And if we can do that at scale, who knows? Maybe we’re helping to ease the burden on our healthcare system too.