No more GP support letters in south-east Wales

The local medical committee for south east Wales has told GPs to stop writing letters for patients appealing benefit decisions. They will now only provide info requested by Atos, which hardly ever seems to happen.
Does anyone know of any other of the country where this has happened?

carmind wrote: The local medical committee for south east Wales has told GPs to stop writing letters for patients appealing benefit decisions. They will now only provide info requested by Atos, which hardly ever seems to happen.
Does anyone know of any other of the country where this has happened?

Yes c,

I saw this article on the BBC website.

Many G.P.'s have been refusing to supply such letters of support for some time.

It varies from practice to practice, and certain areas seem to be worse than others.

G.P.'s have never been contractually obliged to provide such letters for their patients, even where the patient offers to pay.

The only difference here, is that The Welsh LMC in question seems to have sent it down as a direction.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-23353623

bro58

The spokesman said GPs are there to help sick people granted with DLA you may be disabled but not sick but ESAs for those too Sick to work
'sigh' more support taken away from the sick... and disabled

Linda

I'll lock this topic now, to stop it developing into a discussion.

bro58

I posted this earlier in this thread : www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=topic&catid=10&id=98680

The local Medical Committee is what it states 'local'. They cannot make decisions that the General Medical Council (GMC) have not approved. All practising doctors in England, Scotland and Wales have to be registered with the GMC. Also complaints about Welsh doctors have to be made to the GMC and not to their local Medical Committee.