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Called for DLA to PIP Assessment at private physio

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7 years 5 months ago #169661 by slugsta
Thanks for the update Maggie.

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7 years 5 months ago #169664 by Maggie

wotsitallabout? wrote: So sorry Maggie for all that you've been through I'm
in the midst of filling out my form which has been very
stressful I get high rate mobility mid rate care on dla
and worried that I will lose my Mobility car as I live
alone this will be devastating for me though in pain
on average days I can manage to do my errands
hospital appointments etc I too find it difficult to stand for more
than 2 mins could you please tell me if you mentioned in your
p2 forms that you have a mobility car? thanks for your posts
its been a lot of help regarding the assessor!!


Dear watsitallabout? thank you for your kind words. I'm glad you've found some of what I've written in my posts helpful - it's why I try to go into some detail when I can.

You ask if I mentioned having a Motability car on my PIP form. Without dragging my forms out of their current "filing" place in a large bag along with all the other stuff to do with my claim I can't be certain. But just consulted with my husband, and he thinks not. There's no question concerning it, and in some ways it's irrelevant. All they are interested in is how your condition(s) affect you in your Daily Living activities and Moving Around activities.

I was in such a blue funk when it came to filling out my form that my poor long sufffering husband did most of it (my handwriting's illegible anyway so he's always written final versions of forms for me). He used the guide from here, but I don't think he quite got that you have to repeat everything over and over again - each question needs the stuff about safely, repeatedly, reliably and in a timely manner (can't remember precise wording, sorry) putting in. My impression is that it's best to put all that stuff in *every* question it applies to.

Wishing you the very best of luck with your transfer to PIP.
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7 years 5 months ago #169684 by wotsitallabout?
Replied by wotsitallabout? on topic Called for DLA to PIP Assessment at private physio
I too wish you all the the luck...I will be watching out
for further posts I admire your spirit I too am 68
but doubt if I'd have energy lol!
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7 years 5 months ago #169879 by Maggie
Got home around lunchtime yesterday, very exhausted and in pain, so have now seen the Decision Maker's reasons... Also a 3 page letter from ATOS about my complaint, which I haven't got to grips with yet, which I'll comment on when have had a chance to look at it properly and decide what (if anything) to do about it. I the meantime, here's the Reasons for DMs decision.

========>>>

Decision Maker - My decision

*Please note this was in just 2 paragraphs - one for daily living and one for mobility. I have broken this down into further paragraphs for ease of reading.

I made my decision using information about your health condition or disablity including details of any treatment, medication, test results and symptoms. This information is the best we have available and enough to decide how much help you need, As your needs vary, my decision is based on the help you need most days.

You said you can manage reading and understanding signs, symbols and words, I agree you can manage this activity. You said you have difficulties preparing food and managing toilet needs or incontinence. I agree you have difficulties. You said you have difficulties and need encouraging or reminding when taking nutrition, managing therapy or monitoring a health condition. You said you have difficulties communicating verbally, engaging with other people face to face and making budgeting decisions as you can become tired and anxious, and lose the ability to find the correct words.

At the consultation you stated that you are generally able to eat and manage your medication independently each day. You communicated and engaged well with the assessor, and stated that you have your own bank account and can manage your finances. I have decided you can manage these activities unaided, reliably and repeatedly for the majority of the time.

You said you have difficulties and need assistance washing and bathing and dressing and undressing, At the consultation the physical examination showed no functional restrictions and normal movements with your upper or lower limbs, there was no evidence of any muscle wastage in your upper limbs. You stated that you can become dizzy when flexing forward, therefore, I have decided you need an aid to wash and bathe and dress and undress.

You said you have difficulty planning and following journeys and you always need someone with you when you go out to keep you safe. At the consultation you stated that you are able to plan journeys, but unable to undertake journeys unaided. The mental state examination showed that you have normal general memory and concentration, you stated that you are able to drive, but have not driven for some time, therefore I have decided you can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided.

You said you have difficulty moving around and can walk less than 20 metres and can not stand for more than 2 minutes due to pain. At the consulation, there ws no evidence of any muscle wastage in your lower limbs, and you did not have any functional lower limb restrictions. You stated that you are able to mobilise in your home during the daytime using a walking stick.

I have decided you can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more thant 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. I cannot consider any help you need not covered by the activities for daily living and mobility, including being near to a toilet, stairs and use of taxis.
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7 years 5 months ago #169984 by Maggie
From letter from ATOS in response to my complaint...

I have liaised with the manager of the HP who conducted your assessment and asked them to investigate your concerns. They have interviewed the HP and responded with the following:
1. 'Reports she has stamina' - HP admits this is a typing error with the word no being missed out and she sincerely apologises for this. However the rest of the condition history is in line with her descriptions and would not affect any outcome.

2. Action 12, moving around - Mobility activites - The sencence included in the email referring to action 12 does not appear on the PA4

*****************

(My note - this is due to me misunderstanding how the form was laid out, I've been horribly ill ever since the assessment, including having to put off hospital appt and dental work. A perfect example of ME brainfog)

***************

3. 20 - 25 metre descriptor chosen - HP acknowledges that although the claimant attended in a wheelchair this is not prescribed to her by a Health Professional as stated in observations. Claimant reported ability in the PA4 to be able to stand and walk despite attending assessment in a wheelchair. Claimant advised she was able to walk from her home to the end of her garden path which has been acknowledged by HP in consideration wilh all other factors, including HP clinical knowledge regarding claimant's condition, accounting for fluctuation and claimant's use of energy conservation, the movements undertaken by claimant during musculoskeletal testing (undertaken seated in wheelchair), input from other Health professionals, claimants daily routine and tasks conducted and what is medically reasonable for claimants condition. HP is confident in her choice of descriptor.

*****************

I note that the HP did *not* mention the fact that I told her my GP has referred me for NHS assessment for wheelchair back in June. I am still waiting for this. I spoke to my GP on phone this morning, mainly about the diverticulitis I've had while in London, and asked her about the wheelchair assessment. She said it takes them ages, but will get the office to chase it up.

I particularly remember the HP talking about wheelchair , as I said I didn't mind paying for one to which she responded something along the lines of "if you can get one on NHS you should do - you're entitled." She obviously knows nothing at all about NHS wheelchair services - it's very rare you get what you actually need.

I can walk to the end of my garden path - that's 5 metres, something HP didn't say.

She never asked what I did in a day, so how can she argue I do lots of stuff? The most frequently I get up is alternate days, if I've had to attend something more than just being at home it takes me at least 2 days and often 3 or 4 to recover. None of this was asked about or mentioned.

At the moment I need to concentrate on writing notes for MR, but once that is off to DWP I'll be making a further complaint to ATOS and also a letter complainiing about the whole assessment to my MP.

One thing that really annoyed me was assessor said "did you ever work before you got sick?". Obviously already made up her mind I was a workshy scrounger who had never done a stroke of work in my life. Grrrr! Took the wind out of her sails a bit when I said I was working as a Technician in a Cytogenetics Laboratory!

Sorry this so long, and I've only copied part of letter - the rest of it is justification as to why their assessor did such a wonderful job and the report was of good quality etc etc etc. Puke vomit sick making. Grrrr again.

Maggie

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7 years 5 months ago #169985 by slugsta
I'm sorry the response was so inadequate. I wish I could say that I'm surprised . . .

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