Pip assesor/ DWP access to medical records

bigwill2k

What do the assessors or dwp have access to? My dealings with doctors and/or my prescription records from the pharmacy?

calcotti

They have no access to your medical records and they only sometimes contact your GP for more information. It is your responsibility to provide copies of information you consider relevant (bearing ion mind that PIP is not based on a diagnosis but on how your health affects you).

NedS

And I'm assuming (I have no evidence either way) in many instances the GP/Consultants have better things to do than to respond to DWP requests for information. I recently helped someone make a claim for Attendance Allowance, and they found it really difficult to get their own GPs surgery to respond to requests to provide copies of their own medical records to send off.

MattMattMattUK

NedS said:

And I'm assuming (I have no evidence either way) in many instances the GP/Consultants have better things to do than to respond to DWP requests for information. I recently helped someone make a claim for Attendance Allowance, and they found it really difficult to get their own GPs surgery to respond to requests to provide copies of their own medical records to send off.

Depending on exactly what they need most of that should be available to download from their NHS account.

Spoonie_Turtle

MattMattMattUK said:

NedS said:

And I'm assuming (I have no evidence either way) in many instances the GP/Consultants have better things to do than to respond to DWP requests for information. I recently helped someone make a claim for Attendance Allowance, and they found it really difficult to get their own GPs surgery to respond to requests to provide copies of their own medical records to send off.

Depending on exactly what they need most of that should be available to download from their NHS account.

Our GP surgery only gives us access to the summary which is virtually useless - mine lists current medications and has a section for medication allergies - and our immunisation record, which is of course completely irrelevant for benefits.

Spoonie_Turtle

(Whoops, double post, sorry)

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MattMattMattUK said:

NedS said:

And I'm assuming (I have no evidence either way) in many instances the GP/Consultants have better things to do than to respond to DWP requests for information. I recently helped someone make a claim for Attendance Allowance, and they found it really difficult to get their own GPs surgery to respond to requests to provide copies of their own medical records to send off.

Depending on exactly what they need most of that should be available to download from their NHS account.

Our GP surgery only gives us access to the summary which is virtually useless - mine lists current medications and has a section for medication allergies - and our immunisation record, which is of course completely irrelevant for benefits.

Which is correct for everyone unless you request to view your medical records. https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-access-your-health-records/

Spoonie_Turtle

poppy12345 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MattMattMattUK said:

NedS said:

And I'm assuming (I have no evidence either way) in many instances the GP/Consultants have better things to do than to respond to DWP requests for information. I recently helped someone make a claim for Attendance Allowance, and they found it really difficult to get their own GPs surgery to respond to requests to provide copies of their own medical records to send off.

Depending on exactly what they need most of that should be available to download from their NHS account.

Our GP surgery only gives us access to the summary which is virtually useless - mine lists current medications and has a section for medication allergies - and our immunisation record, which is of course completely irrelevant for benefits.

Which is correct for everyone unless you request to view your medical records. https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-access-your-health-records/

Huh, that's a different online service - what bugs me about the one we use (SystmOnline) is that the facility is evidently there but greyed out so we can't access it.  [I've requested access through it a few times but not got anywhere; one of these days I'll get my wits together and do a proper SAR.]

poppy12345

Yes my GP uses the same system. I couldn't see all my records either but i requested them, signed for it and now i can view all my records.

peteuk

calcotti said:

They have no access to your medical records and they only sometimes contact your GP for more information. It is your responsibility to provide copies of information you consider relevant (bearing ion mind that PIP is not based on a diagnosis but on how your health affects you).

Totally correct, even if you tell them they can there is no access to your Gp system.  What they do have access to is the documents you send in.  So if you are under specialist treatment within secondary care, either ask you consultants secretary or GP surgery to obtain copies of the letter they send.  You may already have these as they are often sent to the patient now as a matter of course. 

calcotti

peteuk said:.. as they are often sent to the patient now as a matter of course. 

My clinic letters are all addressed to me and copied to the GP.