is it normal for another GP to fill DLA form in

FleurDuLys

Surely no-one can have a problem with your husband doing that Sunnyone! He's having a course of treatment, not just taking up a GP's appointment time because he wants to keep them constantly aware of how he is.

Some GPs are great, and very caring - mine called me in for an appointment just after I had my mastectomy, to make sure that I was coping OK. I hadn't seen them since being referred to the breast clinic a couple of months before, but they'd had all the paperwork and knew exactly what was going on.

sardine

deeplyblue wrote: »

You want to get the best results? Here's some advice:

Don't see your GP more often than once a fortnight, unless s/he requests it or you feel you need it for medical reasons. Too many visits will merely alienate the GP, and you need them on your side. they are the first line when it comes to establishing your legitimacy, and if they think you're just making a nuisance of yourself for the hell of it, then their forms may reflect that.

Take advantage of all the extra help which is usually offered to those with serious and progressive health issues. See physiotherapists, OTs, counsellors, specialist nursing teams. Firstly because it looks good on your lists of people you see when the DWP look at your papers. They won't make any difference at this stage, but their presence on the list can make a difference later. Secondly because they can add extra testimony when you go to Tribunal - and the Tribunal will notice that you need a whole team of professionals to keep you going.

I have come to the conclusion that even Tribunals believe that if you aren't seeing a specialist (which can mean a physio) then there isn't anything much wrong. It means cooperating with all these people, but if you want to win, that's the route to go.

It also means that your GP will get reports back from them, which will swell your medical record file, and also means that the GP does not have to listen to you talking about the problems you have with (as it might be) bathing, or walking or staying sane. They know about this from people who are trained to help you cope with walking etc.

Ask to be sent copies of all correspondence between the various members of what you will call "my support team". If nothing else this means that you can turn up with an impressively thick file at Tribunal. Just be careful not to look too efficient if you're trying to get ESA - they may decide that you could work. (ATOS have pulled that one before). It also means that if someone doesn't get round to filling in the forms they get sent about you, then you have the evidence of their involvement.

Forget about your privacy or your dignity. You won't get DLA unless you are prepared to tell strangers about how you manage (or don't manage) to wipe your bum. Don't get all emotional about it, though - they don't want to sympathise with you, just to assess you.

Adopt all the suggestions made by the physio and the OT - that's the way that they - and the Tribunal - know that you're serious. This is likely to be tedious, as they will tell you to do things their way, when you've got a system that works for you. You don't have to ditch everything, but try to find a way of working with them - the best ones will listen to your suggestions and try to help.

Research the forms you're going to be filling in, and bear them in mind as you go about your daily routine. When you do fill them in, emphasise the negative - say "No, I cannot do <whatever> unless I have help and even then it takes <time>. Don't say, "Yes, I can do <whatever>, if I have help" The people looking at the forms see the first word, and don't bother with the rest - especially if your first word is "Yes."

Take a look at the forums and open articles on the Benefits and Work site.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

There's lots of useful stuff there. You can't get the full service from this site unless you join - and at ~£20 p.a. it's not cheap. You won't be able to add your own posts as a non-member. However, you can get a lot of pointers just by reading the bits which are open to everyone, and you can get more just by "registering" with the site (which is IIRC free). Some of the posters are experienced Welfare Rights officers.

Locate professional advice for the appeal which you anticipate needing - wisely. They may not be better at organising material than you are, but they have the experience you need at choosing what to say and what not to say.

Don't let any of these people know that you are treating this as an "I can beat the system," game. Let them know that you are doing this for the hell of it and all the good will you might otherwise get, you will lose. However much it would be nice to score points, you'll have to keep mum.

Good luck

Thankyou for those comments. I hope you don't mind, but I have taken a printed copy of them and will be using the advice as an example of what some people feel like they have to do in this country to hopefully gain their rightfull entitlement. I have every intention of advising them of the reason why I am doing this. I do not want to be underhand, sly or devious. I just want to see what will happen, given my medical condition, needs and lack of mobility.
I would also add, that, if by any chance they accept my application, I will not take up the offer of extra cash as quite honestly I feel that there are others who are a lot more deserving than I am. It is simply an exercise of seeing first hand, how I am dealt with and how they perceive my entitlement to be.

This is what the DWP say and accept about my condition - taken from their own handbook :

"People with severe long-term pain (i.e. those on complex analgesic regimes including opiates and likely to be attending pain management clinics) may be restricted in their ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, rise from a chair/toilet. Marked weight loss and poor muscle bulk will cause additional debility. They may need help with self care or cooking a meal; some may have significant problems in walking. The older person is likely to require more assistance with self-care, attention to diet, supervision of medication and help with toilet needs if diarrhoea is a long-term problem. They may also be prone to falls if they are underweight, frail or taking strong analgesics."

FleurDuLys

sardine wrote: »

......and if you were to claim DLA/ESA or maybe AA, what would you do? Give them a quick tinkle to say that the DWP may be asking for a report?

Or maybe like the vast majority hope and pray that the GP/consultant report will be what you would expect it to say?

I do claim ESA, and I have just applied for DLA. It has all been straightforward.

I am under the care of several consultants (orthopaedic spinal surgeon, rheumatologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, and now an oncologist too) and have had regular physiotherapy and pain clinic appointments, and all of these send letters to my GP when I see them, to keep them informed of how my treatment is going and if any medication needs adjusting. This is normal practice, it is how the NHS communicates.

My GP has letters detailing all the referrals and the surgeries I've had throughout my life, and these are kept on file with my notes at their surgery. I've been on strong painkilling medications for years and this is all in my notes. I had no problems claiming ESA, I was awarded it first time with no need to appeal.

I'm only claiming DLA now because I'm (apparently) terminally ill because of the cancer, which has metastasised to my liver. My GP filled in the DS1500 form at once, even though I hadn't seen anyone at the surgery since being referred to the breast clinic, because he knew exactly what was going on since my oncologist had sent through letters to explain. This is entirely normal practice - you get referred for treatment by your GP, and then the person who you see then writes back to your GP giving the outcome of that referral. Hence, your GP notes will contain a complete paper-trail of your treatment, and that is all there if you need to apply for ESA or DLA.

sardine

FleurDuLys wrote: »

I do claim ESA, and I have just applied for DLA. It has all been straightforward.

I am under the care of several consultants (orthopaedic spinal surgeon, rheumatologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, and now an oncologist too) and have had regular physiotherapy and pain clinic appointments, and all of these send letters to my GP when I see them, to keep them informed of how my treatment is going and if any medication needs adjusting. This is normal practice, it is how the NHS communicates.

My GP has letters detailing all the referrals and the surgeries I've had throughout my life, and these are kept on file with my notes at their surgery. I've been on strong painkilling medications for years and this is all in my notes. I had no problems claiming ESA, I was awarded it first time with no need to appeal. With that I was put into the Support Group and not to re - tested until March 2013 at the earliest.

I'm only claiming DLA now because I'm (apparently) terminally ill because of the cancer, which has metastasised to my liver. My GP filled in the DS1500 form at once, even though I hadn't seen anyone at the surgery since being referred to the breast clinic, because he knew exactly what was going on since my oncologist had sent through letters to explain. This is entirely normal practice - you get referred for treatment by your GP, and then the person who you see then writes back to your GP giving the outcome of that referral. Hence, your GP notes will contain a complete paper-trail of your treatment, and that is all there if you need to apply for ESA or DLA.

One of my problems I think is that I see private consultants, which are not paid for by the NHS. I am also treated in a private government hospital. I do wonder whether those reports ever reach my GP.
But I do take your point about having other specialists involved in your care. I presume that that is because you went to your GP to seek advice and help.

For example I went to the pain clinic, referred to by the GP. I was told what medication I should be on, which I have been for the past 3 years. I never bothered to go back as the medication generally works.

Again you mention having no problems qualifying for ESA. I failed with 0 points. On one point alone it was recorded that I said that I have and never had have a mental health illnesses. I just sent the DWP a copy of some reports showing the current position and another report showing that it has been in existence for over 16 years! And as if by magic, they put me in the Support Group and not to be retested until March 2013 at the earliest! I didn't even bother arguing about the physical illnessses after that - the ones they also said I didn't have!

And again, going to the GP is one thing for medical reasons, not going to your GP to build a history of how you are coping with your life along with what care & mobility needs you have.

FleurDuLys

My private consultants reports have always gone to my GP. When I was working I was seeing my spinal surgeon and cardiologist privately, and I had my last spinal surgery done privately too. Some of this was entirely self-funded, some of it was done through health insurance. Private consultants have the same obligations as NHS consultants, so there shouldn't be a problem. Besides, if you're paying for a service you can always put your foot down and tell them to make sure they send the reports!

when_will_it_end

sardine wrote: »

One of my problems I think is that I see private consultants, which are not paid for by the NHS. I am also treated in a private government hospital. I do wonder whether those reports ever reach my GP.
But I do take your point about having other specialists involved in your care. I presume that that is because you went to your GP to seek advice and help.

.

this is why i always ask who a copy of the report will be sent to and i ask them to inlude one for me, if one is not going to my doctor i ask for 2 copies so i an take one to my surgery to be given to the doctor, i think sometimes if a lot of out side specialists are ivolved its always best to check

sunnyone

sardine wrote: »

Well as I have said before, you are one of the very lucky ones in this country! Bit of advice - never move away!!! You have no idea what the real world is like if you even think that the service you get is in any way 'normal'.

My husband is very, very ill and I wish with all my heart that he was back to being dragged into the surgery once a year for his ashma check up but he will never get back to good health and he's only 52.

sardine

sunnyone wrote: »

My husband is very, very ill and I wish with all my heart that he was back to being dragged into the surgery once a year for his ashma check up but he will never get back to good health and he's only 52.

No doubt you do, I would. Just think though how lucky you are to have a caring & considerate GP to help you.

Very few of us have that opportunity despite many being as poorly as your husband is.

System

!!!!!! wrote: »

That goes a long way to explaining why people have difficulty getting an appointment with their doctor when the NEED to see him/her due to an illness.

All the appointments have been booked the previous week by all these people who like a weekly chat with their doc. :mad:

As far as I am concerned that is an abuse of medical services.

To be fair some people need weekly appointments. Before i got reffered to my psych my GP had me on weekly appointments as i was suicidal and needed careful monitering to make sure i was ok.

System

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

To be fair some people need weekly appointments. Before i got reffered to my psych my GP had me on weekly appointments as i was suicidal and needed careful monitering to make sure i was ok.

There is a difference between the GP putting you on a weekly schedule and deciding yourself to visit weekly just to give him an update on how you feel.

The first I understand and have no problem with.