Upcoming changes to benefits

You’re welcome ❤️ I know exactly what you mean, and it is really hard. I’m trying to switch my brain off as much as I can tonight. It’s not working!

I am so so concerned about these reforms. I worked for a while, but got bullied bad which irritated my mental health and I discovered I had Austism which caused issues. I got so frustrated with things I self harmed and OD'd , just wasn't getting any support and mental health declining. Was eventually signed off on medical grounds and got a pension out of it (first review next year which I'm also terrified about), it's not quite enough so benefits helps. I just know at the minute because of the way I am and still on waiting lists I'm definitely not able to return to work. I dread ehays coming tomorrow and the possibility of having to go see a bully work coach who will use any excise to sanction you. I really hope that something happens tomorrow or there are grounds to fight this through the courts.

There's a really key/significant difference.

The Covid vaccination/boosters came at a time when, as a healthcare worker I felt a responsibility to patients - as well as myself - and very little time plus no research/knowledge out there to know the effectiveness.

(I caught Covid again in Jan 22 and was very unwell affected lungs badly causing scarring/chronic difficulties).

I guess my health after Covid in Nov 2020 was pretty bad but it has now become extremely debilitating. I'm just trying to survive and am definitely averse to anything making it worse. I understand they were starting to see some good results from the current trial which is good news and promising.

What I would expect as a minimum is complete transparency about any adverse effects experienced by the 70 people it is, I think, undergoing the current trial as that information will be available to the research/trials team. Those kind of results would likely be known by next year. Hopefully.

If there was not that transparency then I don't need to fret at all as I wouldn't participate. I also won't know if I meet the conditions of the trial for months yet and I may not be able to meet them so I have to keep a pragmatic state of mind about it versus excitement of a 'cure'

I think what 12 years nursing has taught me is to take ownership of my health (and lack of it!) and any and all decision-making relating to it will be mine alone. I won't readily hand over my own autonomy to any healthcare professional or research scientist without being able to make an as fully-informed decision for myself as possible.

I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic. I appreciate your comment - it enables me to reflect on my own thoughts about it and the possible challenges.

A lot of posters here picked up on this, who decides?

Like Professor of Every known medical condition Wes Streeting's comments on the Sunday show about overdiagnosis.

His key objectives should be.

1. People forced out of working due to needing Surgery or other treatment are fast tracked in the NHS
2. Long Covid is real, Many LHB's wont talk about it owing to the old "Never admit liability"
3. They keep saying the UK is the worst affected country to recover to pre pandemic levels

who was the Party and PM at the time? the ones who made such a mess its left a legacy of misery. No Reeves came in with her stupid Fiscal rules and its meant the money needed to be spent on the NHS to stop people who had jobs now forced to rely on Welfare the figures are there, Just like the ones on Brexit.

The UN warned the World to prepare for a mass disabling event post pandemic and it was totally ignored, When you see posts from former consultants who are now relying on PIP when they were on 500k Per year, Yep that's a lifestyle choice. They put money into support for long covid and a treatment plan and they will be Global leaders and something to be proud of.