i got phone call 6.30 this evening i have to attend a dhss medical

the_blue_angel

i have recentyly filled in my incapacity work quetionair i had a phone call 2 weeks later at 6.30 in the evening to attend a medical what usual happens
at these medical first time i have been to one in 5 years

k8vin

depends on whats up with you?

the_blue_angel

anxiety and depression

k8vin

They will want to see how you are getting on in yor everyday life, ask lots and lots of questions in differnet terminology but will all mean the same thing to try and catch you out, lucky for you (not that what you have is anything to be lucky about) but they really cant do much apart from ask you questions. Hope that helps

pipkin71

I filled in my questionnaire and posted on 9th Feb. Have heard nothing since then. Is that a good thing? Really worried about what happens next.

pipkin71

Hope all goes well for you blue angel

hjb123

When you go make sure that you take someone with you. They will ask you quite a few questions and if you struggle on any you have someone there to back you up or to help you etc. I had to go for one back in October and never took anyone with me - and definately regretted it! If you want to know anything more PM me!

H

najtaek

pipkin
you should hear one way or the other. It could be that a letter has been sent to your GP for more information or maybe you are just waiting for an appointment to be allocated to you. This can take sometime.
Some illnesses are passed immediatley without the need for an examination. Sometimes waht the GP says is enough for the case to be passed without examination.

And if you are truthful about your illness you shouldn't have any problems if you do have to go for an examination.

Blue Angel-
The Doctors there are not paid bonuses to try and get people off benefits contrary to rumours.
Obviously the physical examination, the answers to their questions and the medication and treatment have to balance.

Good luck anyway

pipkin71

Thanks Natjaek.
Only reason I'm worried is all the stories going round about how unfair the medicals are. I have genuine health problems but so do many others who are having to appeal medical decisions.
Hopefully DSS will have got in touch with GP or hospital consultant to verify the answers I gave in the questionnaire, which is why it's taken so long.

pipkin71

Sorry Najtaek - slip of the keys!!!

Ted_Hutchinson

najtaek wrote:

The Doctors there are not paid bonuses to try and get people off benefits contrary to rumours.

I would like to know the evidence on which this statement is based.
As you know I have been posting information about benefits for many years and a while ago following several reports about bonus payments I contacted Sema Medical Services as they were then. I had a contact whose work number I had so I got through to them on a line not normally available to members of the public. Unfortunately Clare was on Maternity Leave so after having a bit of chat about the forthcoming event I asked to be put through to the appointments sections to find out about renumeration packages. So speaking directly to the folk who advertise for Medical Services doctors I asked "Can you give me details of the extra payments dependant on benefit outcome available to doctors for reports bringing claimants off benefit."Because they thought I was a doctor requesting information on pay prior to interview the answer was "You can be assured these extra payments over and above the basic rate, are available but the details of the actual level of payments would only be available at the interview"

There was no question that payments over and above the basic rate dependant on benefit outcome, were not available. Nor were they at all phased by the phrase "dependent on benefit outcome"

If there were no additional payments over and above the basic rate available to Medical Services doctors then there would have been no point in interviewing me. Similarly I made it perfectly clear that the basic rates didn'tinterest me but the additional payments dependent on benefit outcome might make the job worthwhile. As I have already pointed out the person I was speaking with thought I was a Doctor and also thought I had an interview pending. I suspect that had I made it clear I was not a GP I would not have had such straightforward replies. I do assure you that while I was not told the actual amounts for the additional payments dependent on benefit outcome I was told clearly and directly that it would be worth my while attending the interview where all would be made clear.

I appreciate that allowing those who handled my call to continue in their belief that I was a GP may have been underhand but I do assure you I do not tell lies. I do not make stories up I simply offer an account of what was said to me and until I have evidence to contrary I will continue to believe what I heard with my own ears.
I was somewhat furious at the time as Brian Pepper who was Clare's boss had previously told me no such payments were made and I had believed him.
I offered him the chance to disprove what I had been told by the appointments dept but he declined the chance of a face to face meeting.
I do believe Brian is an honourable person and would have been very uncomfortable lying to me personally.