Ringing to make appointment for PIP assessment

Hi
I am my husband’s Carer. He suffers from extreme anxiety, so I deal with everything on his behalf. I recently completed a PIP review form, as his current award expires next March. A text came to my phone this morning, inviting him to make an appointment for a face-to-face assessment. (For obvious reasons, I don’t supply his mobile number, but mine instead).
I rang to make an appointment, and was wondering when would be the best time to tell him about this situation, as he will go into a state of extreme anxiety and panic as soon as he becomes aware of it. Unbelievably, I was told that they (the company formerly known as ATOS) cannot make the appointment with me, unless my husband is here with me, and aware that I’m doing so! This seems unnecessarily cruel and pointless. I explained the situation, but was told nothing could be done. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place, because, although I want to get the appointment made, and get the assessment over and done, I cannot bear having to tell my husband so early in the process. Is there any way round this? Thank you.

Many thanks, Gordon. I thought that, if we (I) didn’t follow up on the text invitation to ring and make an appointment ASAP, my husband’s PIP might be stopped! So I can wait, and they will just send him one? Do you think they might now use this as an excuse to give him an appointment further away from home. The text said that they have appointments ‘in our area in the next 7 days’, if my husband would like to ring.
I wish I’d known sooner about the opportunity to become an ‘appointee’. That’s very useful to know now. Thank you.

Gordon, I now find that they are sending me a text daily! Is this ‘normal’? (I suppose I mean ‘usual’, as there is nothing ‘normal’ about it!). I’m so glad I didn’t give them my husband’s mobile number! When I was ill myself, (not long ago) I’d have felt harassed. Luckily, I can ignore them now, and am grateful for your explanation above.