ESA Medical and Doctors report.

I returned my ESA form which had been completed, in May this year. A couple of weeks back I received a letter to attend a medical. I still have a foot problem which stops me walking far and my Hashimoto's Disease and my weight.

I spent time filling in my ESA50 form very carefully and explained I couldn't get to the medical. I am not a new claimant and they have had evidence of this before from the doctor. I telephone them to explain the situation and they tell me the doctors have said nothing about my foot and clearly ticked I can get to the medical via public transport or taxi.

It has been very scantily filled out by a Dr I have maybe seen once or twice many years ago. My regular doctor has left the surgery and my new doctor didn't want to get involved with it.

I was supposed to get a call back from my doctors to sort this out, but I have had to ring them and no-one really wants to deal with it. They asked why can't the medical people send another form to the doctors and it's not very easy to sort out. They won't take my NI number to fax through a letter.

I have been terribly misrepresented and have no regular doctor to back me up at this point.

I am wondering what I can do? If a requested my notes from the GP would Atos/Maximus accept copies of that to show I have these issues?

I have also suffered a severe allergy attack over this weekend due to medication and I could do without all the stress. Thank you in advance for your help.

Hi LadyL,

We have quite a few members who have had to fight to get a home assessment. Once Maximus have said 'no', you are unlikely to be successful without support from your GP.

Maximus will sometimes pay for a taxi if you arrange it in advance. Would this be suitable for you?

Hi and thank you for your reply.

The issue I have is due to nerves and tendons around my foot and Achilles tendon. I have days when, at my worst, I cannot get to the toilet very easily from my bed. There are other days when I can walk a little way but not very far. I am never sure when the pain will start as nothing specific triggers it, so I could wake up on the day of the appointment and not be able weight bare on it at all which would mean missing the appointment. So taxi or not, I can't offer a guarantee I will get there.

I just don't understand what the game is with the doctors surgery. Is it the remit to not fill in the form correctly to misrepresent the patients? They even said I would have to pay for the doctor to write the letter. I questioned why this would be when the info they supplied was incorrect and out of date but I got no sane, sensible reply.

I suffer with Hashimotos Disease which is autoimmune hypothyroidism. I am extremely large which makes walking very difficult anyway. I am actually very stressed. I lost my mother in January and have had a year of niggling illnesses.

The doctor who supported me has recently left the surgery and unfortunately her replacement seems very judgemental. This is all so very upsetting.

Hi Gordon.

I did go and see the GP and as I explained it was our first meeting and she didn't want to deal with it. Told me to go to the reception and ask them to sort it out.

I was supposed to have a phone call from a doctor today and lo and behold, no call. My appointment is next week, 14th. I have no one to go with and easily nearly a 2hr journey either way. I get scared on my own and don't like taxi's.

The doctors have twice backed me up over this walking issue for medicals, I don't understand why they won't back me up again. I have been in A&E twice in the last week with anaphylaxis. My doctors say they have no record of this. It seems to be a bit of a shambles quite frankly.

If I can't weight bear on my foot, I cannot do anything. I have already put the appointment back once at Maximus' request to get this letter.

If I get hold of my gp notes via the electronic booking system, can I send them to Maximus?

I understand they penalise you for not attending, but the assessment centre is on the first floor of the building and you have to confirm you can go down 46 steps if there was a fire. I would struggle on a good day, let alone a bad day.

I am going to ring the doctors again tomorrow and create merry hell to get this sorted. I am having physiotherapy to help the foot. It's not doing much but at least I am trying.

Am very stressed and upset by this.