However your life is impacted by arthritis we want to understand more about you so that we can make sure we continue to develop our information, support and services such as the online community.
If you've not already, please take 5 -10 minutes to fill in our survey. All information you provide will remain anonymous and be treated in the strictest confidence. TAKE OUR SURVEY
New PIP medical, is it ok?
Airwave!
Posts: 2,341 ✭
There are new medical assesments on the horizon for the PIP payments and I have to ask;-
Is it OK for the government to put the disabled under such pressure when assesments could be done by the medical profession and without involving us. I see it as unfair part of the system and should not be a part of our lives we have enough to put up with without an uncaring government exerting pressure over a long period with these assesments.
Is it OK for the government to put the disabled under such pressure when assesments could be done by the medical profession and without involving us. I see it as unfair part of the system and should not be a part of our lives we have enough to put up with without an uncaring government exerting pressure over a long period with these assesments.
0
Comments
Having said that I suppose there are a very small minority who claim and shouldn't really be eligible.
I think in the past people were able to get awards with the say-so of their GP who they have easy access to. GPs probably would be under greater pressure to support their patient.
You would have thought that a consultant's say so would be enough wouldn't you though?
Mind you none of them are likely to know the criteria in any depth. They have enough other stuff to know.
My problem is when the assessors reduce or stop awards for genuine claimants. I've read that some people have even resorted to suicide attempts they feel so helpless and despairing.
Toni xxx
I was first assessed - way back - for Disabled Housewives' Allowance (the precursor of DLA) by my GP. I had to fill in my part of the form then he filled in his part. Except he didn't. He came round to ask what all this nonsense was about. I'd said I could do several things which he insisted I shouldn't eg prepare a family meal. He asked how then threw up his hands in horror when I told him saying much of what I was doing was highly dangerous. I guess it was. There were no gadgets about then to make life easier other than very expensive stuff.
Some years later assessments were taken out of the hands of GPs precisely because they were passing too many people. GPs themselves said that some people put them under enormous pressure and it was all time taken away from other patients.
I think there is no easy answer. Reforms are needed but, without the finance / professional assessors, won't work. And we don't have enough GPs to do their current tasks let alone do these assessments too.
I am very concerned for others, I see no reason why a developed country should put disabled people through such a process.
Elizabeth x
Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no ones definition of your life
Define yourself........
Harvey Fierstein