PIP Appointment - I need to delay help!

Hi I have received my letter for PIP consultation today - 3rd February, I am in hospital for a big knee operation of the 1st of February called customer service center to explain and they wanted me in before the operation, only 4 days to go as if life isn't stressful enough...I got quite stressed as need time to prep and to arrange for someone to come with me as I am not good travelling on my own and get anxious very easily. The customer service operator was not friendly, in fact I felt she was very blunt which in turn made me blunt in reply... I did say they are welcome to come for a home visit and she said we don't do that as you are currently mobile..are they not being unreasonable to expect me to find someone to come with me and prepare myself with no notice I also work and cant just drop everything ! I refused to book another appointment at this point, and am now very worried as she said she has left notes to say I was rude and refused an appointment. I am happy to call back and would like to know the best way to communicate that I need to be given reasonable notice to prepare, have a companion and make allowances for work commitments. This is the first time I have used this forum I can only hope there is some good advice out there ...

Hi gordon

thank you for your reply I have spent the entire day worrying that the Customer Service Operator is going to recommend a freeze on my claim, I did try say that I have an operation on the 1st of February, and she wanted me to accept an appointment within the next 4 days ( between 26th and 29th January as she had plenty of spaces, which does not allow me time to find a companion and prepare myself. I did say that I also have a funeral plus a pre-op assessment this week, I do not know how long I will be bed/house bound for until after the op as it is high risk...as I understand it the phone conversation was taped and at no time did she offer me a future date post op and also did not ask me how long the recovery period was going to be. do you suggest I call back tomorrow in the hope I get another Customer Service operator and ask them to send me a further appointment date in writing where I have seven days written notice?

I cant offer any advice, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry you are having all this hassle to deal with on top of your op, which must be nerve wracking enough on it's own.
They way they treat people is appalling.

I wish you all the very best with yr op as well as with the DWP.