Continuing Health Care - Preparing to fight PCT's decision

Katykat

Jake, might I suggest that you follow the link in my post above for the freenhscare" website. DONT do anything yet until you have read a few of the posts on there. All members there are facing the same fight as you, including myself. I have to say that I am absolutely staggerred that continuing care has been refused for your dad ( but not surprised). I defy anyone to mark someone with Dementia as No Needs!!!!!. One thing you may learn on the website is that at present the NHS is paying for his care as he is in hospital. When you launch an appeal, THE NHS MUST CONTINUE TO PAY until the matter is settled ( & believe me that could take 1-5 YEARS, I kid you not)But- if you voluntarily move him before your appeal is registered, you will have to take responsibility for the fees, whether it is deferred, or not. Deferred just means that the SS put a charge on his house until it is eventually sold however long that takes. If you register with the Freenursingcare forum, you can access free legal advice ( initially) or if you are in a trade union, many also offer free legal advice. I would take advantage of everything on offer. If your dad had a wart on his finger and he was 15 yrs old, he would get that wart removed at his Dr's surgery and the NHS would cover the cost. Or, if your dad drank a bottle of whiskey a day & needed a new liver, the NHS would cover the cost. So now, when he is old and sick and vulnerable, WHY SHOULD HE HAVE TO COVER THE COST HIMSELF??? He's probably paid his taxes all his life. It is no less than blatant abuse of the elderly, & this is happening in BRITAIN, in 2010. It beggars belief.
(sorry for the rant, you can tell I'm in the same position as you, but your case it truly unbelievable)

monkeyspanner

We had to make an official request to the hospital for my MIL's records a charge of £50 was made. We did have to repeat the request as a number of records were obviously missing, received in total about 200 pages. I believe we also asked for and received copies of the GP records separately.

The hospital are likey to be very defensive as they will automatically assume you are looking for reasons to make a complaint.

fredsnail

Jake, we are about to rent Grandad's house to help pay towards his fees - this maybe an option for you to consider rather than selling the house.

Also if he is self funding as Grandad is make sure that he is getting the higher rate attendance allowance as he is entitled to.

Katykat

Fred, we considered that, but the most we could for rent, was £600 pm, plus the headache of having tennants The fees are £550 Per WEEK. Sums didn't add up

cohentb

monkeyspanner wrote: »

We had to make an official request to the hospital for my MIL's records a charge of £50 was made.

I don't know if we were just lucky but we did not have to pay for copies of any records, medical, care home, gp, or nursing. Mind you some things did seem to be missing. I don't know if it was different as by then my relative had died.

dollywops

I have not posted on this forum for a while as there have been other, even more pressing, matters which I have had to deal with.

Anyway, MIL had her assessment today. FIL, OH and I were present with a member of staff from the care home and we met with 2 PCT members of staff. Last time, by the time I got to the home, the PCT representative had already spoken with staff, met MIL and carried out her assessment and failed her.

Today, was different. Obviously, the lady from the PCT had already gone through MIL's case file, very thoroughly and had made copious notes in preparation. Once we started discussing MIL, it became fairly apparent that this would progress positively. They now have to contact the GP and also Social Services (it was unfortunate that they could not get the Social Worker to be present this afternoon). We have a form to fill in giving any additional information we can think of to support this claim. We will now have to wait for the MDT to meet and see what they decide.

We have got one step further than last time, and will now have to await the outcome.

The Social Worker went to visit MIL this week, over 4 weeks after her initial assessment. Fortunately, FIL was visiting at the time. What bothers me is that the Social Worker asked about MIL's finances. MIL has been self-funding since she went into the home, 4 1/2 years ago. As far as I am concerned, this has no relevance on the matter in hand, MIL's application for NHS continuing care. The Social Worker did tell FIL that if her application was unsucessful this time, he could try again in 6 months. OH and I are not happy with the comments made by the Social Worker. Do we just keep quiet and await the outcome or what.

monkeyspanner

I came across this parliamentary answer and thought it might be useful for people to see what their local PCT is doing in the awarding of CHC.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-01-11c.309312.h&s=receiving+nhs+continuing+healthcare#g309312.r0

It looks like there have been some miraculous cures in areas like Blackpool and Westminster.

Errata

monkeyspanner wrote: »

I came across this parliamentary answer and thought it might be useful for people to see what their local PCT is doing in the awarding of CHC.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-01-11c.309312.h&s=receiving+nhs+continuing+healthcare#g309312.r0

It looks like there have been some miraculous cures in areas like Blackpool and Westminster.

Courtesy of the local undertaker I expect.

This may be become very interesting when the local commissioning groups replace the PCT's. Doctors and nurses deciding who to fund based on clinical need and then doctors and nurses discovering how much that will cost :eek:

beaujolais-nouveau

dollywops wrote: »

The Social Worker went to visit MIL this week, over 4 weeks after her initial assessment. Fortunately, FIL was visiting at the time. What bothers me is that the Social Worker asked about MIL's finances. MIL has been self-funding since she went into the home, 4 1/2 years ago. As far as I am concerned, this has no relevance on the matter in hand, MIL's application for NHS continuing care. The Social Worker did tell FIL that if her application was unsucessful this time, he could try again in 6 months. OH and I are not happy with the comments made by the Social Worker. Do we just keep quiet and await the outcome or what.

Don't give the Social Services any information about your MIL's finances, it is none of their business. Have you been sent a copy of your PCT's Operational Policy?

dollywops

Letter arrived this morning. Mother in law is to be fully funded from 13 July 2010. We are so relieved. I was actually in tears when I read the letter, I could not believe it. I think my father in law is in a state of shock.

We really thought we would have a battle. I wish we had done this a bit sooner, but can't cry about spilt milk.

My thoughts are truly with anyone else having to go through this on behalf of a parent in such a condition.