Have i made a terrible mistake re my medical records?

sillymoo1

Hi everyone I'm hoping someone can help me.

I have bipolar ( I'm 47 ) and for the first time last year I made a claim for disability benefits. I was eventually awarded UC/LWCRA without an assessment. I didn't include any medical evidence in my application and I barely put any information on the forms to support my claim. My GP was wonderful and so supportive she told me they had sent her a form to fill in and that she would return it giving me her full support, so I can only assume they went by the information my GP had told them.

Sadly my GP left the surgery so I was given an alternative GP and well, the first appointment I had with him was the most awful experience ide ever had with a GP in my life regarding my MH problems. He is the most arrogant and condescending GP, and man, I have ever met! bearing in mind I was suicidal and going through the worst MH scare/breakdown ive ever had in my life ( and ive had bipolar and severe depression since a teenager ) he made me feel so pathetic...commenting on the way out that ' the best advice I can give you is to pull yourself together because its people like YOU that make your selves ill ' I was utterly devastated. I realised I was not going to get any help or support from him so I decided to change my GP surgery altogether.

I have now been on UC/LWCRA for 13 months. As I had never claimed before I was totally in the dark really about what I needed to do regarding assessments that I kept being warned about so I looked at a few forums and was told I needed to get hold of my medical records ready for when I get called in for an assessment.

So I have looked at several posts from people who have changed their GP's and are having terrible difficulties with their claims because although they can get hold of heir medical records they do not have any medical notes and their new GP's are refusing to write letters or make comment on their conditions because they say they don't know them and have no notes?

Feeling a bit confused and like I may have made a terrible mistake by changing GP's. So is what they are saying is that I have now lost 40+ years worth of notes/comments from my previous GP and I'm just left with basically a paper trail of diagnosis's? Or am I getting this totally wrong?

I am approximately two weeks into the change over of surgeries.

Thank you

w06

you're fretting about internet rumours. Don't worry it'll sort itself out.

Your GP records, paper and electronic, will find their way to your new GP.

The purpose of a GP is to be the first port of call (when a doctor is needed) in managing your health overall, it sounds as though your old GP practice was no longer providing that and so you did the right thing in moving.

Hopefully you'll have a better relationship and care from your new GP.

If and when they're contacted by the DWP they'll respond based on records that have been made during your time with them and prior to you joining them, probably if it's soon making it clear that you registered on x date and most information is based on the old records.

To reiterate, don't worry.

poppy12345

Firstly, did you make a complaint about this GP to your practice surgery manager? If you didn't then, you should because i would have. Infact i did exactly this myself a few years ago. You also have every right to change GPs, if you don't like the one you're currently seeing.



It seems like you didn't have much choice but to change GPs because your previous GP left the practice. Your medical records will be on file, including everything that was said during each appointment.


You're right what you read and some GP's aren't very supportive when it comes to writing letters for benefit claims and the ones that are may charge you.


A lot of GP's don't have time to write letters for benefit claims and will tell you that DWP will contact them if needed. This isn't quite true, they very rarely contact anyone for evidence. You were very lucky last time that they contacted your GP. When you do have your review then i'd advise you to make sure you send evidence to support your claim, just in case they don't contact anyone.