GP refusing to provide medical support

RadLot

Hi, I've been hanging around the forum for a while now but this is my first time posting.

I have an autoimmune disorder (Behcets) that has taken a long time (around 18-24 months) to be diagnosed. I had to gather a lot of evidence of my symptoms, have different illnesses ruled out before I received a 'probable' diagnosis. I have finally received a firm diagnosis.

I had a very large flare-up last year and have never bounced back like I previously used to. It's kind of been downhill from there really. My symptoms have got worse and there seems to be very little or no gap between flares these days.
My mobility has dropped and it makes work hard. My managers try to be supportive, but NHS upper management are not very nice or helpful really. I love my job and want to continue but I do feel I need help to be able to do this. 

A blue badge would be helpful as it would allow me to basically park as close to my department as physically possible. So I checked my local councils rules about this and basically they go off the Motability section of pip. So after consideration and advice seeking, it is basically easier to apply for pip and get that help before claiming a blue badge.

I've researched, gathered information etc and I know how useful to my claim a doctors supporting report can be. So I spent a long time providing information, examples etc for my GP and requested a medical report.

It was basically a huge waste of my time and energy, because today (after no contact for over 2 weeks) my GP rang me and said he was refusing to provide a report. He said that pip is basically a tick-box exercise and it is up to me to explain why I tick the boxes. He said he would reconsider the issue if I am refused and have to appeal/go to tribunal but that I would have to sit down with him face-to-face and basically justify why I feel I deserve pip. But then he said that he wouldn't actually be sure he would have time for that.

I tried to explain to him that the application process is currently weeks and weeks long and that waiting for a tribunal would take forever. I feel like I need help now. But he didn't want to hear it.

I'm currently off work sick right now (I'm self-certing for now but will most likely need a sick note with how ill I'm feeling). I feel stressed enough right now as I know I'll have to have a 'meeting' as this sick will trigger a 'meeting'/'warning' about my absence level as the NHS uses an automated service and doesn't seem to care about the individual details.

I'm really not sure where to go from here, as I only have about 3 weeks left to submit my pip claim form and I really wanted to include everything I needed.  

calcotti

PIP is based on how your health affects you. Your GP does not see you in your home trying to cook a meal or using the bathroom etc. For that reason a letter from your GP is of limited use. 

You need to describe how your health affects you. You will provide this information as part of your claim.

You can ask your GP to give you a copy of your Summary Care Record, that will summarise your medical interventions, diagnosed conditions and medication.

OverlyAnxious

Have you read the council's Blue Badge processes in full?  It does differ between councils, but mine allowed a 'manual' application for people without PIP Motability.  I applied for my badge that way and found the process to be much easier & quicker than the PIP process.  I appreciate that doesn't help financially, but while waiting for PIP it seems like it could help practically.

RadLot

calcotti said:

PIP is based on how your health affects you. Your GP does not see you in your home trying to cook a meal or using the bathroom etc. For that reason a letter from your GP is of limited use. 

You need to describe how your health affects you. You will provide this information as part of your claim.

You can ask your GP to give you a copy of your Summary Care Record, that will summarise your medical interventions, diagnosed conditions and medication.

Thanks for the reply.

I have requested a copy of my medical records, so we'll see how long they take to actually acknowledge my request this time

calcotti

RadLot said: I have requested a copy of my medical records, so we'll see how long they take to actually acknowledge my request this time

You can send the information later if it’s not ready yet.

RadLot

OverlyAnxious said:

Have you read the council's Blue Badge processes in full?  It does differ between councils, but mine allowed a 'manual' application for people without PIP Motability.  I applied for my badge that way and found the process to be much easier & quicker than the PIP process.  I appreciate that doesn't help financially, but while waiting for PIP it seems like it could help practically.

I looked through all of the information on my council website and spoke to a member of the team on the phone. You can apply two ways - by showing them at least 8 points on the motability questions of a pip award or by going through their own assessment process.
The council process uses the same criteria as the pip motability questions and seems like a really long and drawn out process of forms, meetings and physical assessments. 

RadLot

calcotti said:

RadLot said: I have requested a copy of my medical records, so we'll see how long they take to actually acknowledge my request this time

You can send the information later if it’s not ready yet.

I think this is what I'll have to do, as it takes ages for the GP surgery to do anything.

I've been contemplating changing GP practice for a while now, as I've had issues since I first started to report my symptoms to them. After the doctor essentially told me all of my symptoms were in my head, I decided to research myself and found the clinical specialist I wanted to be referred to. After battling to be referred, I was finally able to see the specialist and be eventually diagnosed.

OverlyAnxious

RadLot said:

The council process uses the same criteria as the pip motability questions and seems like a really long and drawn out process of forms, meetings and physical assessments. 

Fair enough, as I say, it is different between councils.  Mine didn't use the same criteria as PIP at all, very different form that asked specifically what help a blue badge would be.  I didn't have any meetings or assessments (as I wouldn't be able to get there!) but most people will have one assessment.  It's still much quicker than the PIP process where you'll most likely be waiting several months for the outcome.

poppy123456

A letter from your GP isn’t the best evidence to send anyway because they won’t know exactly how your conditions affect you. 

When filling out the forms you need to add a couple of real world examples of exactly what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. 

Adding detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. 

Medical evidence is only useful if it states exactly how your conditions affect you. Also you don’t need medical evidence to successfully claim PIP. Your own anecdotal evidence should speak for itself.

janer1967

Hi there 

Just wanted to add I get pip enhanced for both the only medical evidence I have ever sent is prescription list , report from ot . I have also had a review and retained the award both times with no issues 

L_Volunteer

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us @janer1967. I think your experiences will be invaluable to community members experiencing similar things