Continuing Health Care - Preparing to fight PCT's decision

margaretclare

sloughflint wrote: »

Don't get me started on social services and such like!

It's easy to say this now while you are fit and healthy and long may it continue. I have to handle the affairs of a highly intellectual person who is now sadly exhausted by the simplest task, even writing out a cheque.

I know. That's why it has all been set up to run as automatically as possible, without the need for 'tweaking', should that day ever arrive.

monkeyspanner

greenflamingo wrote: »

Funny isnt it how no-one from Social Services or any professional involved in my FIL's case has ever mentioned that he could claim this.

When we complained about the lack of information provided by my MIL's "Care Manager" the Director of Social Services told us "we do expect clients to do their own research". We pointed out my MIl was 84 had parkinsons, diabetes, vascular dementia, a bleeding gastric ulcer, no access to the internet and was at the time hospitalised. This seemed of little concern to him. So if you don't have a relative or friend don't expect any help from Social Services. God help us all.

PM me if you would like to know what area of the country I am talking about.

EdInvestor

margaretclare wrote: »

I commented to DH that if a person needs help claiming, sorting out etc then they need it regardless of who they are and where they come from. But there are people getting paid for 'seeing that you don't lose out' and we are paying for them via council tax.

I guess the assumption is that there are already many organisations dedicated to helping ordinary UK citizens who need help, eg Age Concern, the CAB, Shelter, Child Poverty Action Group, Alzheimers Society,etc etc. All of these will attrract sponsorship money from the Government.

But there may be specific needs in the so called "BME community" which get overlooked because not many of this type of client crops up at the mainstream charitable organisations, so they may lack the relevant expertise.You'd expect the 2nd generation to be using the mainstream oranisations, rather than the BME specialists, but it's not hard to see there might be a need for transitional bodies like these, especially in areas with high recent immigrant populations.

Errata

Many local CAB's are part funded by their Local Authority, as are the local Age Concern and Help the Aged.

Savvy_Sue

GOING OFF-TOPIC

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: While it’s easy to wander off-topic that often prevents newbies finding the information they want quickly and easily (please see this rule). Please keep this thread on topic. If you’d like to discuss non-MoneySaving related topics please continue your discussion in The MoneySavers Arms or Discussion Time. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="%20abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

cabvol

greenflamingo wrote: »

Thanks SloughFlint - yes you are correct - AA is payable if you are in a nursing home and you are self funding. The higher rate is around £67 per week which I am sure my FIL is eligible for. Malid - if you relative is self funding you need to check he is claiming it.
http://www.camden.gov.uk/print/ccm/content/community-and-living/welfare-and-benefits/can-i-get-attendance-allowance-.en?page=all

http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/cme2060.htm?scheme_name=lgnl&scheme_category_id=292

I have found a Pensions letter dated November 2007 and my FIL is claiming the £119.05 single persons pension and also "because you are severely disabled £48.45". This is under the heading "Pensions Credit" so I guess he is not claiming Attendance Allowance as there is a 6 month waiting limit before you can claim. We have now downloaded the form from the DWP website and once POA is received we can crack on with that just in case CHC funding is refused.

Funny isnt it how no-one from Social Services or any professional involved in my FIL's case has ever mentioned that he could claim this.

The amount under 'because you are severely disabled' is called an addition or premium and is paid where a qualifying benifit is in payment either AA or DLA care at mid or high rate.

malid

malid wrote: »

I am arranging to see his consultant next week and will be making it clear that I want a full assessment before he is discharged back to the nursing home. In other words, I want them to follow their own NHS protocol.

On Monday, I was advised to wait for a few days before speaking with the consultant so that he would have a better grasp of my uncle's condition.

On Wednesday, my aunt was told that once they had sorted out his swallowing, he would be sent back to the Nursing Home.

I went to the hospital in the evening to stress that:
1. we wanted to speak with the consultant to establish exactly what was going on (impact of heart attack given other numerous problems; swallowing issue etc)
2. I didn't want him discharged without a proper assessment

The Staff nurse and I had a long conversation about his situation and I then mentioned that I was adamant that a review CHC assessment took place (given that he had had one without our knowledge and had 'not met the criteria). Her response was 'we deal with many CHC patients here and your uncle is way over the criteria!' She was going to instigate a review herself and assured me that he would not be discharged to the nursing home until after the MDT meeting which my aunt and I would be allowed to attend.

He remains in hospital - surviving on 2 spoonfuls of soup and maybe a yogurt or small custard. He is totally confined to a special bed; cannot move unless someone moves him; cannot eat or drink unless fed. I wet to his GP surgery to get a list of his medication on Monday. Unbeknown to me, before he was discharged to the nursing home he was prescribed antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs. I understand that these have been prescribed therefore he has been assessed as requiring them; however, having read up on them, they do have side effects and can interact badly with other medication - Parkinson’s for example. Although he is clearly a very ill man, his condition has deteriorated significantly in the last two weeks. His unresponsiveness - almost constant - could be down to these two drugs. I have asked the nurse to discuss this with the doctor.

I have resisted contacting people this week and last night I was told the MDT may be next Wednesday (appears that's when they have their meetings). I will contact SS on Monday but I think it is very helpful/useful that a senior nurse believes he meets the criteria.

weanie

Good luck. It is encoraging to know you have the senior nurse to support yo in some way. Many of us will be watching yor posts with interest and looking forward to you achieving a fair assessment.

malid

On Monday, following a discussion with the doctor, I was informed that a MDT had been convened for Wednesday to discuss my uncle's CHc application. The doctor said I could attend; however, I was subsequently told by nursing staff that it was for medical staff only. I pursued this only to be told that the MDT would be discussing several patients but that I could ask for a separate review afterwards. I wad not particularly comfortable with this as I wanted it to be an individual discussion personal to my uncle not a discussion of a group of patients. This appeared to be a 'ranking' situation for me but I stress that this was my gut reaction and I have no evidence to support this.

I have tried to contact the Social Worker all week to ensure that she was fully up to speed with the matter.

I have to report that this is now all academic as sadly, but mercifully, my uncle passed away early yesterday morning (Wednesday) before the discussion took place. He had remained in hospital but I am sure may have been discharged back to the home if I had not continually impressed upon them about the CHc application. I am grateful that he stayed in hospital given the extent of his nursing needs.

My uncle spent 12 days in the nursing home and the last 12 days in hospital. I had already provided all his financial information for the means test (whilst pursing ChC separately). To date, there had been no official confirmation other than verbal confirmation of part NHS, Part Social Services funding as my uncle was below the financial threshold. However, all his pension and allowances - bar the weekly £27 or so - would have had to have been handed over. None of this had been paid by him/us - no request received - at the time of his passing.

If we receive such a bill in the coming weeks/months, I will fight tooth and nail not to pay it on the basis of:

• procedures not followed re involving and informing the family about CHc prior to discharge to the nursing home
• he had only been in the nursing home 12 days before he was admitted to an acute hospital bed
• I had been pursing a CHc application since 2 days after he was admitted to the nursing home

I sincerely hope that I won't have to continue with this battle but I am determined that justice is served. I am quite appalled about the whole aspect of NHS care and NHS CHc; a subtle but important difference as outlined by the Law Society. It is scandalous at the lack of information available to those who at the time of need, are not best placed to find out for themselves. We have national advertising campaigns for everything; why not for this? It should not be a lottery for those who know or are in locations where they are better informed. This is an entitlement for everyone and there is criteria that MUST be followed. Lack of funding is no reason for not actively promoting or rejecting applications.

I wish everyone else every success in their fight. Do not give up; be assertive, measured and as informed as you can be. In my opinion, if you make an effort to be totally informed on this, you do not need to involve solicitors; there is a wealth of information out there.

My particular thanks to Monkeyspanner who provided invaluable links. I am very grateful.

monkeyspanner

Hi Malid
I am really sorry to hear about your Uncle. It is sad that at a time when someone needs the undivided support of their family the NHS and Social Services force people to divert their time into fighting battles like this.

I hope you can spare the time to drop into the forums from time to time to assist others as you obviously managed to understand the process quickly and make some significant headway.