what to do?

nannytone_2

based on my tests at the hospital .... my acuity is 6/60 in both eyes, total loss of visual field and central vision of 10 degrees. an automatic qualifuer for high rate movility. but ....

my consultant chargges for reports.
the letter he sends my GP just say that my sight has deteriorated.

i went to the GP to ask to be referred elswhere.
the response was that they cant refer me somewgere else just because where i go now doesnt suit my purposes for benefits!

i could scream! as if life isnt hard enough ....

rogerblack

As I understand it, you can apply for DLA, and in some cases, they may organise the tests.

You can also consider doing a data protection request to the hospital, to see if they've stored a fuller report, perhaps a direct printout of the testing machine.

OneYorkshireLass

It is annoying when consultants don't put enough info in their reports - my cardiologist was the same.

Try and speak to the secretary for your consultant. There's every chance she may understand your frustration and get the consultant to add more information. It's worth a try.

nannytone_2

i had this conversation directly with the consultant
he got his ductaphine oyt, and in a very patronising way said, a letter to be sent to the GP and the patient... with all the specifics of my condition.

my letter never arrived and the GP's one just said 'deterioration'.all i wants is the specifics on headed paper!

i will do down the freedom of information route ... but they want £50 for copioes of my recordzs, not a freat deal but money i dont have to hand ....

OneYorkshireLass

Typical.
I find consultants very hard work.

'though your GP doesn't sound much fun either!

nannytone_2

my own GP is great ..... getting an appointment with her is a different matter!

we have a rural GP practice. covers a huge area, and have about a dozen GP's

getting past the receptionists is like getting past the gestapo!

i turn up at 8 am every morning ib the hope od seeing the GP that has some understanding of the difficulties i face. no luck so far ....

clemmatis

nannytone wrote: »

i had this conversation directly with the consultant
he got his ductaphine oyt, and in a very patronising way said, a letter to be sent to the GP and the patient... with all the specifics of my condition.

my letter never arrived and the GP's one just said 'deterioration'.all i wants is the specifics on headed paper!

i will do down the freedom of information route ... but they want £50 for copioes of my recordzs, not a freat deal but money i dont have to hand ....

I am really sorry to hear all this -- all that you've said in the thread.

You should not have to pay £50 for this, it's the maximum amount for copies of all the hospital's records on you and postage/packing. Hospitals have though taken to asking everybody who wants copies for £50. Might it be worth talking to PALS?

I agree with the suggestion of 'phoning your consultant's secretary.

Here's the NHS information about access to records

How to make a DPA request

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1309.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=160

Fees

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/fees-for-accessing-medical-or-health-records.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=160

nannytone_2

its easier and harder all at the same time,
i have a condition that can be measurede, but an unwilling consultant.
i meet the criteria, but without his approval i cany kustify it.

the worst thing is that he thinks hes making a stand!

he says ....' the bevefit system treats visually impaired people badly.... so now i will treat the system badly and chartge!'

he doesnt understand that they wont pay and so will make a decision without the important information

GlasweJen

Hi Nannytone, did you know you can make an appointment to view your records at the hospital? This should be free and someone who is trained will be there with you to decipher jargon and abbreviations.

You can ask for copies of specific pages within this so if you find the page with your VAs on it then you can have that page copied.

Another option is to apply for a driving license, dont enclose the fee and fill in a medical disclosure form (you used to get these from the post office) to send with it. Pop a note of your consultants name and hospital details and a few weeks later you'll get a rejection letter from the DVLA which should state a reason - that was the only evidence I could get of the name of my condition because my consultant didn't want to label me! Hopefully the reason will be on the grounds that your best corrected vision is 6/60 with a significant visual field defect and you can use that as evidence.