One million disability checks planned

[caro]

Work capability assessments: One million disability checks planned.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31590017

Edited February 23, 2015 by caro

[Lilly_Monroe]

Work capability assessments: One million disability checks planned.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31590017

 

Looks as if they are gunning for the people with MH problems.

[Old Cogger]

Let them assess the sick MPs 1st

[honeybee13]

Looks as if they are gunning for the people with MH problems.

 

I thought that, Lilly. 24 mental health champions for the whole country?? That's nothing.

 

HB

[Nystagmite]

And are they going to be assessed properly? Someone on here said they claim ESA on the basis of a MH problem and posted their experience of their WCA, which was more like (actually, it was worse than that) the one I had for Dyslexia, which is a learning difficulty.

[SabreSheep]

I know 24 is not enough MH people BUT it is still an increase. Just not much of one.

 

I would hopefully like to think that an increase in MH team is being done to decrease the successful appeals rate of people with MH issues which means BETTER assessments.

[honeybee13]

I hope the same, having had MH issues, let's hope your optimism is justified, SS.

 

HB

[squirrelly Whirley]

And are they going to be assessed properly? ...

 

 

 

Whether to detect a mental or physical condition, I've always held that the HCP-led medical assessments are woefully inadequate, and is dependent on the medical-experience of said HCP. Everybody presented for the medical, has a unique medical condition. Unfortunately, we are tested under the flawed methodology that requires that everybody fits into the tight-criteria of a static computer-based questionaire, This is as opposed to a personalised, and necessarily more-involved medical which takes account of individual symptoms.

 

 

It's little wonder that so many are found 'fit for work'. The testing-metrics are skewed to deliver the opinion the DWP require - to find as many as possible fit for work.

 

 

Personally, I have chronic heart failure. For my consultant to detect this requires fairly advanced technology in addition to his own skills, knowledge and experience. I've been prescribed strong medicines to suppress my symptoms. Whatever data is gained by (say) a psychiatric-nurse, who has no cardiac-nursing experience, must produce information that is extremely limited.

 

 

Time will tell if Maximus will improve upon the performance and accuracy of ATOS in conducting the medical.

[SabreSheep]

The problems will for the most part remain the same. As long at Maximus do nto forge reports, tell lies or miss off important information and follow the DWP rules then they cannot be blamed.

 

The problems underlying all this is the DWP tests are inadequate as mentioned above. Maximus will just carry the can for it

[sadone]

So employing less doctors, but more 'health professionals'. Easier to twist the truth that way I imagine.

 

So, same old, same old.

[estellyn]

If they are using the same descriptors, the same software and many of the same people, I can't see there will be much improvement unless they remove any type of 'performance indicator', which is unlikely to happen. They will still expect each assessor to fail x%, and to put no more than x% in the support group.

 

Yes, 'health professionals' are more malleable, but in both directions - I'm suspicious of doctors who choose to do this type of job rather than actually practice medicine. Too many who do are burnt out, inept and/or on a personal crusade to fail as many (what they see as) 'malingerers' as possible.

 

ETA: One of the main issues is that there always seemed very little desire to actually find out if a claimant fit descriptors or not. The software and interviewing structure was designed to elicit responses that could be used to show a person did not fit the descriptors, even if they actually did.

[Nystagmite]

I've got no problems with being tested; but as someone with numerous rare and very misunderstood medical conditions, (even by trained doctors) I would only be willing to be tested by someone who knows what they're dealing with. IE, a trained neurologist and psychologist.

[worried33]

What I find odd is they have employed that blogger, sue marsh. Is that a PR stunt or a genuine attempt to improve things, only time will tell.

 

The % of HCP's that are doctors will drop.

No idea if recorded assessments will continue.

Priority seems to be to rush through assessments to get the backlog down.

[Lilly_Monroe]

I've got no problems with being tested; but as someone with numerous rare and very misunderstood medical conditions, (even by trained doctors) I would only be willing to be tested by someone who knows what they're dealing with. IE, a trained neurologist and psychologist.

 

I am the same in respect of having no problems with the medical (if done correctly and fairly) I have appealed two medicals both ESA and PIP and won both which proves we are not being given a fair chance.

[mikeymack2002]

With these reviews they ask you to provide "evidence" of your condition correct? Baby steps here ok, but by the time you have read this post you may have some good questions to ask or respond with

 

 

Say for instance a claimant had a medical condition that required several high level operations and care for several years. With MRI follow-ups, what if any right would a HCP have to make any informed judgement for the DWP? I believe that the person conducting the interview MUST be of a calibre and have the correct qualifications and experience in that particular field?

 

 

I for one could provide a boxed binder or three full of data to confuse the blazes out of a HCP. What if the evidence provided by the claimant contained MRI/A scans, are the interviewers even qualified to judge such medical history?

 

 

If a claimant that has been seen/or treated by a "CONSULTANT" in a specialist field deemed unfit/unsuitable for work? How can the interviewer change that decision made by the Consultant?

 

 

This is NOT an argumentative post please read it carefully and read what the "BOLD" words are saying!

[estellyn]

The thing to get your head around is that they're not assessing you in a 'medical' way. They're assessing ability to work or not based on the descriptors. Yeah, they take a glance at the medical info, really just to check that what you say you can and can't do fits with what conditions you say you have. Apart from that it'a mostly on the answers to the questions spat out by the computer.......except there are certain conditions that are big red flags for them - like back pain, for instance.

[Nystagmite]

A lot of the problem with those descriptors is that many of us have conditions that don't fit. But working would still be quite difficult. If I just had my neurological problems, I am sure I woule be found fit for work. But despite being on pretty strong medication, I would struggle to get to work and actually work.

 

MRI scans don't show much. All mine shows is that I have part of my brain missing and some fluid where it shouldn't be, which doesn't tell anyone a lot. This has meant that someone has actually sat there and told I'm lying about all the pain I'm in. And that's coming from a doctor. (not ATOS)

[mikeymack2002]

estellyn

 

 

You have a point on this but always the but, what is missing is the information provided by the claimant as requested is the interviewer able to make the decision on what is presented to them? Maybe/not that was my point.

 

 

Like the poster above does that particular HCP have the ability to take in what is written?

[estellyn]

estellyn

 

 

You have a point on this but always the but, what is missing is the information provided by the claimant as requested is the interviewer able to make the decision on what is presented to them? Maybe/not that was my point.

 

 

Like the poster above does that particular HCP have the ability to take in what is written?

 

In my experience, little notice of the medical condition is taken by the hcp - it is all about the descriptors - this is why reg 29/35 are more or less ignored by the hcp, as they have an inability in most cases to make a straight up assessment on the medical info. The most reference to medical info I've seen on decisions as a rep, is when the dwp decision maker may send the case file to the dwp doctor for an opinion.

 

Not sure what you mean by

'You have a point on this but always the but'

[Lilly_Monroe]

I am not sure they even read any of the extra information submitted to them, they go by the form and that's it (that's why its so important to get that filled in correctly).

 

They also see you for the length of the medical which can vary from 30 mins to an hour, and because you have made it to the medical they take that as a sign of being well.

For my ESA medical I was asked silly questions about my MH state, a coat was pointed to and I was asked what it was.

I was given numbers to add and subtract told to remember chair, clock desk in that order (what good are those questions) I am depressed not brain dead (I felt ridiculed).

At my PIP medical all the evidence from my CPN was ignored - and yet when I sent it in for the reconsideration appeal I won.

 

It does not matter how ill you really are, you have got to hit ALL or enough of those damn descriptors to win.

 

When I rang about my PIP appeal the lady from the DWP told me that it does not matter if you walk 200 metres and then fall over at 201, if their criteria is 200 metres then you have failed as far as they are concerned - there is no leeway.

[worried33]

What I find odd is they have employed that blogger, sue marsh. Is that a PR stunt or a genuine attempt to improve things, only time will tell.

 

The % of HCP's that are doctors will drop.

No idea if recorded assessments will continue.

Priority seems to be to rush through assessments to get the backlog down.

 

in response to this, I since checked her blog and her views are scary.

 

e.g. she thinks anyone without a consultant's letter should be automatically rejected for ESA, so seems she is out of touch as well.

 

She basically wants ESA to become a diagnosis based benefit.

[Nystagmite]

in response to this, I since checked her blog and her views are scary.

 

e.g. she thinks anyone without a consultant's letter should be automatically rejected for ESA, so seems she is out of touch as well.

 

She basically wants ESA to become a diagnosis based benefit.

 

Most of us are screwed them. I don't get consultants letters because, well, everyone has given up with me. Like many, I am incureable. I am on daily medication to control the constant pain and to enable me to breathe properly.

 

With many of my consultant appointments, I received my diagnosis and that was it - because there's nothing that can be done and it's just a case of being left to get on with it. (and begging someone to help me because quite frankly, the pain is too much and simple things like waiting in a doctors waiting room with other people is becoming physically painful)

 

If it's to be based on diagnosis I am equally screwed. I have 2 rare diagnoses and another 2 which are seriously misunderstood.

[Lilly_Monroe]

in response to this, I since checked her blog and her views are scary.

 

e.g. she thinks anyone without a consultant's letter should be automatically rejected for ESA, so seems she is out of touch as well.

 

She basically wants ESA to become a diagnosis based benefit.

 

 

Then most of us are screwed as consultants letters are like gold, they simply do not have the time to keep writing letters (they hardly have the time to treat us).

[mikeymack2002]

I found this out the hard way my solution was to ask the Consultant to refer me to their Nurse Specialist.

 

 

Guess what? It was done in 10 days and I have never ever looked back, not only that I got so much more done by the Nurse it was unreal......

 

If I need a letter a quick email and she does it for me.

 

 

You can always ask for this at any time and the team will understand

[worried33]

Then most of us are screwed as consultants letters are like gold, they simply do not have the time to keep writing letters (they hardly have the time to treat us).

 

indeed, I still remember the entire day I Was in hospital and the consultant gave me 2 minutes which was to discharge me.

 

sue marsh is in a dream world.