incapacity benefit, doctor!

Glyndwr_2

healy wrote: »

I have never heard of that before especially as most PCAs are now usually done on a computer with nothing printed out to sign. The only form I can think of that people have to sign is on arrival to confirm attendance. I didnt say you were stupid I was just trying to make sense of what you said.

I agree. I went for a medical in June and did not have to sign anything other than one form to confirm my attendance and one to claim expenses.

seven-day-weekend

My husband did not have to sign anything a year ago for his IB medical (he passed).

Chrysalis

Morglin wrote: »

Many appeals are successful - and many of those have not seen an EMP - original claims fail for many reasons (the way the forms are completed, for a start).:rolleyes:

Doctors and DWP have targets to meet - but all they involve is turnover of work - not denying, those who need them, benefits.

EMP's have the remit of trying to give honest assessments of who is fit for work/entitled to DLA and who is not. Some are poor, and some get it wrong - that's life, and that's why we have tribunals..

But, the vast majority of claims just sail through.

I have been involved in benefits for 20 years - and I have never found evidence of any mis-doing by anyone.

The only people to think there is a "conspiracy" going on are those whose claims have failed.:rolleyes:

There was a huge investigation a few years back (by disabled groups) to determine whether the EMP's were paid/encouraged to reject claims etc., - it was found to have no basis in fact.

Lin

And people who work as welfare advisors themselves so deal first hand with claimants who have problems. The worst problem with society at the moment is there that is too much trust in the system and the government, no targets? How about a target to reduce the incapacity benefit bill, you think they are telling people business as usual whilst expecting to get people of benefits. There wont be any evidence posted here about atos origin targets because as I said before they are not publicised for obvious reasons they have to be seen as a unbiased organisation. I dont deny there is medicals that have no problems ie. unaltered medical reports. But to come on here and tell people this kind of thing doesnt happen is just wrong, if you have been involved in benefits for 20 years then you will know that medical reports can and do get altered even if its only a minority it does happen. The new computerised medicals stop the issues such as poorly written reports but LiMA itself has its own problems in that it tells the doctors what questions to ask and as a result can end up asking very irrelevant questions. I am not implying there is some huge conspiracy going on I am simply saying to the OP be careful and dont assume by simply saying the truth the doctor will write an accurate report because assumptions can easily get made.

My first medical lasted barely 5-10 minutes even tho I read somewhere its supposed to be longer, it was a lima computer medical and the doctor looked completely disinterested, a lot of the questions were a bit irrelevant and there was stuff he assumed (found out later when appealing) but didnt ask to verify he written down, also when these doctors make assumptions the assumption will always be you 'can' do something not cannot. I find it very questionable a doctor I have never met before can decide in 10 minutes he knows more about my conditions then a gp I had been seeing for 3 years and 2 specialists, the 3 points on the medical was used over 3 medical professionals opinions. I of course won the appeal, incidently I have had another medical since which didnt use the lima computerated system and that seemed to go fine, the doctor took more of an interest in my condition and asked relevant questions and I got enough points from it. So I know it works both ways.

Chrysalis

shaddowmum wrote: »

Actually yes there is because there is a statement that has to be signed at the end of the assesment to prove that what was said to be true as i have that statement in my draws here so please dont you dare tell me that there aint anything to sign

This dont happen on the computerised medicals or at least it didnt used to happen. On the hand written medicals it was signed but the concern is then the doctor altering the report after the claimant is out of the way.

seven-day-weekend

I still do not believe that most professional medical people would deliberately falsify a report, they would be chucked out of their profession, or at least strongly censored, if they did.

I do agree that people can make mistakes/assumptions/misunderstandings and maybe this is why people have something written on their report that isn't true. NOT that the Doctor is deliberately lying.

However I also think this only happens in very few cases.

I hope the OP tells us how things go.

Morglin

Chrysalis wrote: »

And people who work as welfare advisors themselves so deal first hand with claimants who have problems. The worst problem with society at the moment is there that is too much trust in the system and the government, no targets? How about a target to reduce the incapacity benefit bill, you think they are telling people business as usual whilst expecting to get people of benefits. There wont be any evidence posted here about atos origin targets because as I said before they are not publicised for obvious reasons they have to be seen as a unbiased organisation. I dont deny there is medicals that have no problems ie. unaltered medical reports. But to come on here and tell people this kind of thing doesnt happen is just wrong, if you have been involved in benefits for 20 years then you will know that medical reports can and do get altered even if its only a minority it does happen. The new computerised medicals stop the issues such as poorly written reports but LiMA itself has its own problems in that it tells the doctors what questions to ask and as a result can end up asking very irrelevant questions. I am not implying there is some huge conspiracy going on I am simply saying to the OP be careful and dont assume by simply saying the truth the doctor will write an accurate report because assumptions can easily get made.

My first medical lasted barely 5-10 minutes even tho I read somewhere its supposed to be longer, it was a lima computer medical and the doctor looked completely disinterested, a lot of the questions were a bit irrelevant and there was stuff he assumed (found out later when appealing) but didnt ask to verify he written down, also when these doctors make assumptions the assumption will always be you 'can' do something not cannot. I find it very questionable a doctor I have never met before can decide in 10 minutes he knows more about my conditions then a gp I had been seeing for 3 years and 2 specialists, the 3 points on the medical was used over 3 medical professionals opinions. I of course won the appeal, incidently I have had another medical since which didnt use the lima computerated system and that seemed to go fine, the doctor took more of an interest in my condition and asked relevant questions and I got enough points from it. So I know it works both ways.

It can work both ways, and there are incompetent EMP's (as there are GP's and consultants).

Which is why we have an appeals process, which worked for you.

But, I have worked in welfare rights and benefits for 20 years, and the vast majority of claims are fine.

Lin

sleepymy

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I still do not believe that most professional medical people would deliberately falsify a report, they would be chucked out of their profession, or at least strongly censored, if they did.

I do agree that people can make mistakes/assumptions/misunderstandings and maybe this is why people have something written on their report that isn't true. NOT that the Doctor is deliberately lying.

However I also think this only happens in very few cases.

I hope the OP tells us how things go.

I'm afraid you're wrong then, I've had it happen.

During a medical 3 years after I had to stop work, we never discussed my work and yet the doctor stated on my form that I said I had left work through stress. How can you be mistaken about part of a conversation which never took place?

She also wrote that my ME was 100% psychological as with all people with ME, Even though ME is listed as a physical illness with the WHO under their serious illness section.

kurjam

has your partner been for their medical yet ???
how did they get on

Gillianh2

Op
A little advice which may be helpful, as your partner has Mental Health issues is he being seen by a physcatrist or nurse for help and treatment. If he is ask them to draft a letter to take with you to the medical,they will do this (ours did) on production of the letter the Dr didnt go ahead with the assesement and instead said that he would reccomend that I not be recalled for 18months. Might be worth going down this route.
Try not to stress too much easier said than done I know.

Good Luck
x

Chrysalis

Yes a letter will help, I took one to my 2nd medical.