Sick certificates

[MARONE]

Hi everyone

 

I hope starting this new topic I havent broken any rules, my big worry is my new GP who I registered with recently has refused to give me a certificate as she is insistent the rules have now changed. I have chronic back pain since having discectomy in Nov 2010 and also take very strong pain killers such as codeine phosphate (2x 30mg every 6 hours or every 4 if I am absolutely screaming in pain combined with neurophen and paracetamol)

 

Jan this year i was told my condition is caused by a degenerative disc disease so dont have a hope in hell of ever having my life back and was told by one of the doctors at pain management that the only thing they can offer me is an anterior spinal fusion, something that sounds horrific from what I have read, 75% of patients that have this are worse off.

 

 

My condition is such that I can only sit or stand for no more than 10 minutes and walk maybe 50-100 mtrs with rests in between. Plus I use a crutch and living in SW London I am scared to go out as I have had a few falls and people around here generally don't give two hoots if you have difficulty walking they just shove you out of the way crutch or no crutch.

 

To make a long story short I am receiving housing benefit, DLA (£20 for each component) and ESA, I have been put in limited capability to work group and in order to continue to receive payments for ESA have to give them medical certificates. The problem is my new GP -who was highly recommended by one of the other doctors at this practice. She outright refused my request for a new certificate for the reasons I put above, she didn't even bother to read my notes and it was only at the persistence of my best friend who also helps me with shopping and cleaning (i have no family or friends apart from him) that she gave me a form for 5 weeks. To make things worse she also cut my medication without giving me a good reason. I used to get a supply of months worth of tablets now she has only given me 28 of them and put instructed to take ONE ever four hours!

 

Again she obviously didn't care to read about my medical history and no matter how much I argued was not interested in what I thought. My blood test results showed my organs are fine and I am well aware that this medication I take is strong and I do control how much I take very well so either she thinks I am an addict despite her saying all tests look fine. She suggested I go swimming learn a trade go to the gym even pay for private pilates class which is funny because as I dont work and rely on ESA how the hell does she expect me to pay for these let alone try to live? I have tried all the excercises possible with the physios and again she was not interested in my telling her how much I tried to improve my condition.

She really was unpleasant a horrible horrible woman.

My question is can I do something about this, I want to work but my pain prevents me from doing much at all, I have no friends apart from this one that helps me out when Im really stuck, he phoned the DWP and was told by them there should be no reason she is doing this and we should contest her decision and demand to know EXACTLY why shes taken it upon her self to behave like this. I also want to know if its possible to register in another GP despite not being in their cachment area. I regret changing to this new one as my old one new all my medical history, the problem was that I no longer live in their area and from where I am its six miles away which in my condition was a nightmare to get to and getting cabs there is very expensive as I am living hand to mouth. If it wasnt for my friend helping me out sometimes with cab fares i really don't know what would become of me.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and again I apologise for the length of this post

 

Marone

[up2meears]

Hi Marone,

 

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time with the GP, there's one like her at my surgery and I refuse point blank to see him, and as such the GP I do see now is lovely.... Could you not see another doctor at the practice?

 

I do not have any expert knowledge on ESA, but have found out myself today, that if you've passed the assessment stage and in a group you don't need to supply fit (sick) notes to the DWP - I'm sure I'll be corrected if I've got that wrong or misunderstood you (which isn't hard for me)

 

Lastly I used to live in SW London, and my GP practice was very good (apart from a couple of receptionists who can be a bit rude) I don't really want to broadcast my details on an open forum, but if you want to send me a pm, letting me know what area you live in, my old GP practice might be close enough to you.

 

Keep your chin up

Up2

[RaeUK]

I'm confused. I presume, from your post, that you've been put in the WRAG group. If so, then you don't need to send in (un)fit notes. These are only for the assessment phase or if you are appealing a failed WCA.

[MARONE]

Hi Marone,

 

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time with the GP, there's one like her at my surgery and I refuse point blank to see him, and as such the GP I do see now is lovely.... Could you not see another doctor at the practice?

 

I do not have any expert knowledge on ESA, but have found out myself today, that if you've passed the assessment stage and in a group you don't need to supply fit (sick) notes to the DWP - I'm sure I'll be corrected if I've got that wrong or misunderstood you (which isn't hard for me)

 

Lastly I used to live in SW London, and my GP practice was very good (apart from a couple of receptionists who can be a bit rude) I don't really want to broadcast my details on an open forum, but if you want to send me a pm, letting me know what area you live in, my old GP practice might be close enough to you.

 

Keep your chin up

Up2

 

Hello Up2

 

Thank you for the reply if you could pm me any info you may have please I would be most grateful, I'm going to see the doc who recommended I see this nasty doctor, he seemed to be quite sympathetic so hopefully he might be willing to listen. If not I'm going to tell him to get stuffed and walk out, I am sick and tired of being spoken to in a disrespectful manner. I'm a 44 year old woman and have worked my behind off before I developed this and it's partly through overworking that led to my condition it's not my fault. If it helps I'm in the SW16 area close to Croydon.

Thanks again

 

Marone

[MARONE]

Dear raeuk

 

I do believe it is the Work Related Activity Group, yes that's the group I'm in. I've already had my assessment over a year and a bit ago and was placed in this group ( I just checked the letters from the DWP)

The only nice doc in the practice advised i appeal to be put in the other group, the support group and offered to help fill out the form. I had no idea this was possible to be honest but what you're telling me is the first I've heard of it, that I don't need to go begging the doctor for a "fit" note? Would you please reconfirm that

 

Thanks again

 

Marone

[estellyn]

If you're in the WRAG group you do not need to provide 'fit notes', even if appealling to be in the support group.

[reallymadwoman]

DWP should have told you when they put you in WRAG that you no longer needed to send in fit notes.

[speedfreek]

Sounds like 6 of 1 half a dozen of the other tbf with the GP.

 

You're after a Med Cert she does not have to supply so....

 

As for the medication issue your 1st port of call with any issue is the practice manager.

 

Ask politely in a letter for an explanation of why your meds have been dropped! If still unhappy request mediation and/or a second opinion on this from a 2nd GP via the practice manager.

[MARONE]

I'm confused. I presume, from your post, that you've been put in the WRAG group. If so, then you don't need to send in (un)fit notes. These are only for the assessment phase or if you are appealing a failed WCA.

 

I better call DWP to tell them as they don't seem to have a clue, I had no idea thank you for letting me know!

 

Regards

 

marone

[MARONE]

Sounds like 6 of 1 half a dozen of the other tbf with the GP.

 

You're after a Med Cert she does not have to supply so....

 

As for the medication issue your 1st port of call with any issue is the practice manager.

 

Ask politely in a letter for an explanation of why your meds have been dropped! If still unhappy request mediation and/or a second opinion on this from a 2nd GP via the practice manager.

 

I certainly will, thanks for the info!

 

Regards

 

Marone

[MARONE]

If you're in the WRAG group you do not need to provide 'fit notes', even if appealling to be in the support group.

 

Thank you for the info!

 

Regards

 

Marone

[RaeUK]

You're welcome. Let us know how you get on. At least it should be one thing less to worry about.

[MARONE]

No they didn't say a thing so I will chase them up on Monday!

 

Thank you and thank you all for the advice seriously

 

Best wishes and kind regards

 

Marone