DLA Renewal - Poor/Inacurate GP Report

MECFS_2

I was a partner in a business and stopped work due to illness in 2002.I have suffered from M.E/CFS and Fibromyalgia for 9 years and have rceieved DLA for the last 7 years at high rate mobility and medium rate care. When I initially went to my GP practice after moving house the GP I saw (who is also head of practice) seemed anti M.E. i.e he didn't believe in it so although he was my registered GP I saw a different GP who was more realistic about my condition.

My DLA award is up for renewal and has been being processed since Nov 09. I got a copy of the GP's report the DWP and unfortunately it had been done by the 'anti M.E. GP - frankly it was appalling. The medication and treatment was incomplete he went into no explanation of my condition and then said I had no care or mobility needs.

I am due to visit one of the DWP's medics next thursday and my claim expires at the end of the month. Should I complain to my GP's surgery and get the report ammended to be more accurate? Is this even possible? Should I complain to the practice manager about the GP who wrote it? I feel it is very unlikely that a DWP doctor could over rule 'my own' GP's report but has anyone seen this happen? Interestingley I had a GP report for a completely different reason 3 months ago that was accurate - 'hardly able to walk etc' I have sent this in to the DWP but I know by law they can ignore it. Naturally I am concerned that a GP report which states I have no care or mobility needs will end my claim. I see other specialists that could confirm my condition but my claim expires in a few weeks and they wouldn't be able to write evidence for me given my experience in this short time frame. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

TOBRUK

So sorry to hear of your problems with your GP and hope someone here will have good advice for you - sorry I don't.:(

I too suffer with ME and hardly able to leave the house. I used to get HRM and MCR but recent renewal they have awarded HRM a LCR. This was nothing to do with my GP because she has really been supportive and helpful with my illness and asks me to see her every 4-6 weeks to see how I am.

I don't know how they came to the decision of lowering the care rate as my condition is worse now than it was the previous renewal. However, I didn't challenge them for an appeal because I was afraid they may take away some or all award as it seems some on this forum have experienced.

I wish you luck, it must be an awful time for you both physically and mentally.

jetta_wales

Definatly complain to the practice manager and ask what other options you have for a further more official complaint against him.

Have the other report from 3 months ago that is correct and not utter rubbish as this last one is, to hand when you see the DLA doctor to show him this also and explain your situation with the problematic GP.

Also when complaining about your GP insist that you are given a different GP (the one you like and find supportive) again bring the two differing reports then also to show the practice manager and furthermore INSIST that the practice manager writes to the DWP condeming the previous report as false and unprofesional and stating your actual condition and care needs in proper correct detail.

If you can do this then I think you should be able to get it sorted in time to prevent your DLA from being in jepardy.

Seriously that's dreadfull, play hell and make sure he doesn't get a chance to do it to another patient who he thinks is just pretending to be ill.

Oh some people make me feel so cross!

Errata

furthermore INSIST that the practice manager writes to the DWP condeming the previous report as false and unprofesional and stating your actual condition and care needs in proper correct detail.

No Practice Manager will write to the DWP in the way you suggest.

OP make an appt with the GP who's been treating you, explain the situation to them and ask for their help in supplying the DWP with accurate information and their opinion of your health status.

jetta_wales

Errata wrote: »

No Practice Manager will write to the DWP in the way you suggest.

OP make an appt with the GP who's been treating you, explain the situation to them and ask for their help in supplying the DWP with accurate information and their opinion of your health status.

Since I'm not a surgery practice manager myself I do not know if they would or not (maybe you are?) or maybe we're just giving our 'opinions' and I would be very cross and that is what I would do. They are responsible in part for those under them I don't think anybody here is likely to know how any one individual would handle this situation.

That's how I would aproached the situation if it had been done to me, advice from individuals is what was asked for and that is my 'individual advice' and no more.

Errata

A Practice Manager manages the practice and is responsible for its smooth running. They do not have oversight of or responsibility for medical or clinical staff's opinion, nor can they overturn it.

lolababy

We paid for a private report from a gp in our practice as the one who is named as our doctor wrote a rubbish report. We then presented it to the dla tribunal.

MECFS_2

Thanks for the advice. I had thought about writing to the DWP to explain the GP report is innacurate and I am in the process of obtaining an accurate report briefly outlining to the DWP the GP's omissions in medication, treatment and effects on my mobility and care. I was then going to approach the practice manager to explain the report needed to be either ammended by the GP who had written it or a new, accurate report produced by a different GP. I intend to present the 'other' more helpful report and ask why they are so different and what they intend to do about it. If they fail to do that I would then complain formally and also outline I am being discriminated against. How does this sound?

jetta_wales

ME/CFS wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. I had thought about writing to the DWP to explain the GP report is innacurate and I am in the process of obtaining an accurate report briefly outlining to the DWP the GP's omissions in medication, treatment and effects on my mobility and care. I was then going to approach the practice manager to explain the report needed to be either ammended by the GP who had written it or a new, accurate report produced by a different GP. I intend to present the 'other' more helpful report and ask why they are so different and what they intend to do about it. If they fail to do that I would then complain formally and also outline I am being discriminated against. How does this sound?

Absolutaly spot on, go for it, and I wish you the very best of luck too.

Keep us posted on how things go.

MECFS_2

I have explained the situation to the Practice Manager. He has asked me to write to him and add my version of what should be on the GP's report. He will then consult with the unhelpful GP who wrote it to see if he is willing to add the more accurate information to his report and send this in to the DWP in the form of a supporting letter. Sounds good in principle but I will have to wait to see if the GP who is anti M.E. and Fybromyalgia is prepared to do so. If not I suggested approaching the GP I see more frequently. Failing any alterations to the report I explained to the Practice Manager I would have to complain formally against the GP in order to support my DLA tribunal which would inevitably happen as my claim would be rejected on the basis of his current evidence. Blimey.

jetta_wales

ME/CFS wrote: »

I have explained the situation to the Practice Manager. He has asked me to write to him and add my version of what should be on the GP's report. He will then consult with the unhelpful GP who wrote it to see if he is willing to add the more accurate information to his report and send this in to the DWP in the form of a supporting letter. Sounds good in principle but I will have to wait to see if the GP who is anti M.E. and Fybromyalgia is prepared to do so. If not I suggested approaching the GP I see more frequently. Failing any alterations to the report I explained to the Practice Manager I would have to complain formally against the GP in order to support my DLA tribunal which would inevitably happen as my claim would be rejected on the basis of his current evidence. Blimey.

Oh gosh what a polava but I do hope it pays off.

Will you be changing which doctor is your GP too? You could end up facing all this again next time you need to review and your GP should be the person who provides your main care at the practice idealy anyway so it would definatly be a good move to be able to put that guy behind you and never have to deal with him again.