Can I expect my GP to give me evidence for Tribunal?

VitaK

Our GP offered us an appeal package for £195 or an basic medical history for £30. This is after they admited that the questionnaire was riddled with mistakes that they where responsible for. There responce was that it was not there policy to change what was written in the questionnaire... even if there was obvious mistakes.

I understand your frustration with this questionare as it can either make or break an claim. I do hope your GP will provide a support letter.

robus

VitaK wrote: »

Our GP offered us an appeal package for £195 or an basic medical history for £30. This is after they admited that the questionnaire was riddled with mistakes that they where responsible for. There responce was that it was not there policy to change what was written in the questionnaire... even if there was obvious mistakes.

I understand your frustration with this questionare as it can either make or break an claim. I do hope your GP will provide a support letter.

As has already been stated, a GP is under no obligation to give the patient any support by way of report or letter. Many more GP's are going down this route and to be honest, I don't blame them. If I couldn't get an appointment that same day because somebody had asked the GP to write a report to help with a benefit claim, I would not be too happy!!

My health comes well in front of somebody trying their luck in claiming a benefit!

GP's are very busy, given the reduction of working hours that they must now adhere to.

If someone (just like me) hadn't kept their GP up to date with their needs and consequently nothing was entered on the records held, then that is the fault of the patient/applicant not the GP and certainly not the fault of somebody who is turned away because the GP is too busy with these damn requests from patients!

In my case I accepted the responsibility of not keeping the GP up to date and as a consequence cannot see that I have the right to appeal against the DWP's decision. If the GP had willfully given incorrect evidence then that is a different situation. But most of these problems are clearly the fault of the patient/claimant.

VitaK

I fully agree that if you dont keep your GP up to date then it is on yourself. But what happens when the GP didnt fill the form out to a satisfying level and it cost you your award. Let me give you a few examples from the questionary from my wifes claim and tell if it is still ok for a GP to refuse a support letter.

1) My wife suffers from depression with a extensive history of suicide attempts and selfharming. Also recent. DWP asked about her mental condition incl. history, treatment, response to treatment ect. Our GP wrote "Not feeling any better".
2) My wife suffers from sleep apnea and is using a with a respiratory mashine at night. We even told out GP about an incident where she feel asleep on a bus and woke up 2 hours drive away. Our GP wrote "Insomnia". Our GP didnt mention sleep apnea one single time in the questionary even though DWP explicitly asked about it.
3) My wife suffers from Sciatica. When our GP was asked how it affected my wife they wrote "Tingling sensation in arms at night"....That for what out GP think is a trapped nerve in the neck and we are waiting for an MRI scan to comfirm this.
4) When asked about medications, dosages, responce to treatment, prognosis our GP made a copy her repeat perscription and refered to that.

I could go on and on. I understand that a GP is not obligated to give supportive statements but I do think they have a moral obligation to help when mistakes have been.

To clarity. Our DLA renewal was completely derailed by the questionare. Our GP admitted that the statements in the questionare is wrong and still refuses to put anything in writing we can send to DWP to get the DLA renewal accepted again.

robus

VitaK wrote: »

I fully agree that if you dont keep your GP up to date then it is on yourself. But what happens when the GP didnt fill the form out to a satisfying level and it cost you your award. Let me give you a few examples from the questionary from my wifes claim and tell if it is still ok for a GP to refuse a support letter.

1) My wife suffers from depression with a extensive history of suicide attempts and selfharming. Also recent. DWP asked about her mental condition incl. history, treatment, response to treatment ect. Our GP wrote "Not feeling any better".
2) My wife suffers from sleep apnea and is using a with a respiratory mashine at night. We even told out GP about an incident where she feel asleep on a bus and woke up 2 hours drive away. Our GP wrote "Insomnia". Our GP didnt mention sleep apnea one single time in the questionary even though DWP explicitly asked about it.
3) My wife suffers from Sciatica. When our GP was asked how it affected my wife they wrote "Tingling sensation in arms at night"....That for what out GP think is a trapped nerve in the neck and we are waiting for an MRI scan to comfirm this.
4) When asked about medications, dosages, responce to treatment, prognosis our GP made a copy her repeat perscription and refered to that.

I could go on and on. I understand that a GP is not obligated to give supportive statements but I do think they have a moral obligation to help when mistakes have been.

To clarity. Our DLA renewal was completely derailed by the questionare. Our GP admitted that the statements in the questionare is wrong and still refuses to put anything in writing we can send to DWP to get the DLA renewal accepted again.

I am sorry that this happened to you.
I too had a very similar problem. Despite numerous reports sent to the GP from various consultants relating to both mental health issues as well as life threatening physical ones, my GP wrote that they are severe, that they are progressive but at the moment they are CONTROLLED with a daily high dosage of Opiates.

If you have a controlled condition be it with drugs or surgery, the definition of that word to the DWP is that 'at the moment there are NO issues as regards care or mobility'.

My responsibility was to ensure that the GP understood the implications by using that word, but I never bothered to bring him fully up to date on a regular basis. If I had have he would have known that they are not controlled, but reasonably stable whilst under the influence of Opiates. Being stable means that for a short period of time the pain is reduced to a level that the drugs allow me to rest.

My fault, not the GP's and certainly not the DWP.

Hence I question, have I got a right to complain to the DWP and lodge an appeal? Or maybe complain about the care and attention given to me by the GP - No, I have to accept that it is plainly my fault.

I too am unable to claim what I believe I am entitled to.

cit_k

The GMC will be holding a consultation sometime soon, about changing the code of ethics for doctors, to include a moral duty to encourage people to work.....

robus

cit_k wrote: »

The GMC will be holding a consultation sometime soon, about changing the code of ethics for doctors, to include a moral duty to encourage people to work.....

And so they should!

It has all been too easy for years to get a sicknote from a GP on the basis that the patient asks for it and complains of a condition.

Now hopefully, GP's will be more aware that the practice has to stop.

Sick notes are only to be issued where the GP considers it unwise for the person to work at his own job, but may be able to do another, totally different job.

Working actually does make you feel better in some cases.

cit_k

robus wrote: »

And so they should!

It has all been too easy for years to get a sicknote from a GP on the basis that the patient asks for it and complains of a condition.

Now hopefully, GP's will be more aware that the practice has to stop.

Sick notes are only to be issued where the GP considers it unwise for the person to work at his own job, but may be able to do another, totally different job.

Working actually does make you feel better in some cases.

Show me where on a 'fit' note (as sick notes are no longer issued) it states anything about the 'refrain from work' applying ONLY to the claimaints OWN job?

The other box, is for that, where it says if they could work at their own occupation with reasonable adjustments as suggested by the doctor.

luminated

An update and for me good news.

I saw my own GP this morning and he said of course he will let me have whatever I need to be of evidence for the Tribunal. I said the Practice Manager had said unlikely to which my GP laughed and said don't worry. I need to write him a letter outlining what I need and to remind him of how my symptoms affect me day by day and he will oblige no charge.

My faith in humanity is restored after being very down over the past few days having to continually fight.

Thanks again to all those that helped with good advice :beer:

Richie-from-the-Boro

luminated wrote: »

An update and for me good news.

I saw my own GP this morning and he said of course he will let me have whatever I need to be of evidence for the Tribunal. I said the Practice Manager had said unlikely to which my GP laughed and said don't worry. I need to write him a letter outlining what I need and to remind him of how my symptoms affect me day by day and he will oblige no charge.

My faith in humanity is restored after being very down over the past few days having to continually fight.

Thanks again to all those that helped with good advice :beer:

Good for you, REM when you write to your GP - its care & mobility needs and frequency of those needs.

luminated

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Good for you, REM when you write to your GP - its care & mobility needs and frequency of those needs.

Indeed it is.

So easy to lose sight of the objectives