ESA/DLA Medicals

annebr

My OH has just shown me an article on BBC News Website regarding these medicals. McMillan Cancer Charity are now questionig the validity of these medicals. Patients who have cancer have been told that they are fit for work.

This seems a similar situation that a lot of us are in and probably others with serious illnesses.

Just thought I would point it out.

Anne

suncatcher

I wish someone would look into it all again it seems unjust and unfair. joanne

penfactor

This article is also interesting: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8396200.stm

stepdeb

penfactor wrote:

This article is also interesting: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8396200.stm

I agree that working can be beneficial for health if well, but when not and not getting signed off can lead to more problems becasue of the stress caused. There is so much bureaucracy nowadays that it seems no common sense is used when professionals have to make decisions on our health. What has the world come to.... :roll:

bertyboy

This article is also interesting: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8396200.stm

i have read this with interest and would like to say that its not every body that can go back to work so soon after an operation or illness as soon as others for the simple idea that if somebody sits behind a desk all day they are possibly able to get back sooner than say a person that does heavy work i know it depends on the individual operation as well i am not decrying any body here illness and recovery is a very individual thing people are not cattle , even a cow doesn't produce the same amount of milk as the next and surly your own DR and consultant knows your body better than a stranger behind a desk x

happy_feet

This is getting me more and more angry every day. I think its an underhand way of cutting costs and people with illnesses and disabilities are an easy target.
Ive just been diagnosed and havent seen a specialist yet, I have good days and bad, on bad days I can hardly drag myself around the house, if the pain hasnt wiped me out the tiredness does. But thats only me whos newly diagnosed - what about those who have had this or some other awful thing for years and are literally crippled with pain? How on earth will people cope with being thrown onto the jobseekers heap and told they have to be "actively" seeking work, which means running about here there and everywhere, (you get no travel expenses) doing their best to find jobs that dont exist, and when they do exist there are hundreds of applicants. This was my jobseekers agreement, and if you dont provide written proof you have done it all your benefit is stopped.

Ring at least 1 employer a week
Write to at least 1 employer a week
Contact Jobseekers direct at least 7 times a week (Its only open 5 days a week, and again no travel expenses so you have to use your benefit or walk)
Ask family, friends and people I have worked with before
Look in the newspapers weekly
Use internet daily (If you dont have internet at home you have to go find it)
Attend A4E at least 1x weekly for their assistance in Jobsearches
Attend Jobcentre 10 minutes prior to appointments, to apply for suitable work.

And now they are dragging our own doctors into it. The "Fit note" thing they are going to make doctors do instead of sick notes will not just put doctors under pressure its going to be a massive burden on the NHS - there will be ill people made even more ill by being forced to go out and work. And when a doctor has to describe what the patient "can do" which means they are capable of working, there will be so many good doctor and patient relationships ruined. Doctors have enough to do they should be allowed to use their judgement and say whether a patient is capable of working or not.
Something needs to be done about this system and the cruel way the sick are targeted. :x

tkachev

On the other hand I would like to do some work now I feel better, I am classed as a carer of my two disabled children so dont get hassled,( my time will come) but once working I am concerned about, bad health days,travel,uncaring bosses, flare-ups and taking time off for my 2nd hip(which is deteriorating) and then all the problems I read about with discrimination,ESA,being fired.It is all so off-putting.I dont want to get on that treadmill again.
Elizabeth

woodbon

Hi, I think if I were a GP I would feel insulted that my medical expertise was being called into question. In my own case I am receiving a small occupational pension from the Local Government, my employers, who sent me to occy hearl Doc
several times. The occy health doc has written clearly to the council that in his opinion I will be unfit for work for the rest of my working years. A occy health doc with specialist training and in my case employed by the NHS, should be more capable of making a decision on work capabilites than some recent recruited person working for a private company, I would have thought. Not to mention the worry, time off work my husband has to have to take me. We have no public transport here in the country, so we have no option. Ohhhhhh. Sorry, a sore spot! :? Love Sue