Pointless CHDA assessment?

siobhan1

... now resolved sorry

Pippa_Alumni

Glad to hear it @siobhan1, do let us know if we can be of further assistance!

siobhan1

Sorry... I wrote a huge long rant/list of questions and then weirdly got a call back from a manager at CHDA 5 mins later who had discussed my call with their colleague. It turns out the assessment centre does not have a hoist or even room for the length of my wheelchair to turn in the hallway at a right angle so they said they could offer a home visit only if I got proof I needed the powered wheelchair... but as my GP didn't write on the form that I use it they can't do anything.

 I had already sent with my evidence an OT report asking my doctor to do a referral for an EPIO Chair as my manual was no longer suitable as they have prescribed wrist splints and OPD injections for my ribs, and also my loan agreement from NHS wheelchair services. Based on this (and the criteria for my local NHS wheelchair services being that you cant have the chair unless you can't walk inside or outside at all except for transfer to normal seats) the manager said I shouldn't have been asked to go for an assessment.

Also my bladder urge incontinence wasnt mentioned by my GP at all but I have photos of the inside of my bladder and proof of weekly bladder instillations and prescriptions which support my claim.

The manager said that the health professional had written some incomplete and confusing notes which didn't seem to relate to my file so she has requested the file back and is giving it to a different health professional for them to reconsider whether I need an assessment as she agrees that I already meet the support group criteria based on the mobility and bladder confidence risk.

I'm very sad that I'm having to escalate this and point out the obvious and I feel awful for others who don't have my knowledge of DWP guidance and may not know that the AP have got things wrong or disregarded evidence.

I agree with the assessments to some degree because like in my case my GP knows nothing about me once they refer to specialists... but they have criteria for a reason and in this case they haven't even considered it despite me sending proof. I'm very determined to make sure things are done correctly or I get anxious. I'll find out on Monday whether I have to attend on Wednesday. If I have to attend it will be a centre that is not accessible to me so we will see how that goes... i may have to take an attendant pushed chair and pay a carer but that is an extra expense as well as the letter I've already paid my GP for so I'm reluctant to do it.

Pippa_Alumni

Goodness, sounds like a complex process @siobhan1! Thanks for sharing this with us. It's good to hear that you're being proactive about the situation, although I'm sorry you're having to deal with this on top of everything else. Please do let us know how you get on next week.

siobhan1

Thanks for replying, as per my other post I don't have to attend as I already provided enough proof. It really shouldn't get to this point as it causes people needless anxiety and people may be going through assessments that there is no logical need for. I asked what they would be gaining from the assessment and they didn't know.