PIP review phone consultation cancelled

My PIP phone consultation was cancelled today, 40 minutes before scheduled call. They called to cancel.

Received phone call yesterday also, to confirm my availability for consultation and as a security check. Also received two text reminders of forthcoming telephone consultation.

They have rebooked for two weeks’ time.

It’s all so dysfunctional. I feel empty, deflated and fatigued.

Thank you, BIS.
Best to you.

Had a text this morning from Independent Assessment Services (formerly ATOS) regarding my second appointment consultation this coming Friday (as stated above, the first was cancelled at very short notice). They asked me to call them “straightaway”.

Called them just to be told they’ve cancelled again because the Health Professional I’d been allocated has gone off long-term sick. Rebooked for two weeks’ time.

What can you say.

Hello Catherine … thank you for your response.

It was a review I was having.

Finally had the consultation first thing yesterday morning. The assessor introduced themselves as a “physiotherapist”.

He warned me from the off that his mobile phone hadn’t charged properly overnight (obviously working from home) and that he was using it plugged in so it might suddenly stop working if the call couldn’t keep up with the conversation. He said he’d attempt to call me back if we became disconnected.

He couldn’t pronounce one of my conditions (sarcoidosis) and made light of his inability to pronounce it. It was obvious he had never heard of the condition.

He questioned my taking one of my medications first thing in the morning rather than before bed because one of its side effects was drowsiness. He obviously assumed that was possibly contributing to the fatigue of my illnesses (ME/heart condition/ sarcoidosis/depression). I said the medication was for pain management and was needed through the waking day not necessarily overnight. I also said drowsiness was one of the “possible” side effects and wasn’t something that necessarily affected me.

The consultation lasted only 30 minutes. I was quite surprised by how short it was. I came away from the call profoundly relieved that it was over (amazing how anxious and unsettled pre call you can become - I’d hardly slept). But I am not hopeful of a good outcome (a kinda protective default position I adopt when dealing with these anonymised people) and could see areas where his leading questions were trying to trip me up. I suspect some of my answers were too vague and he has probably interpreted them negatively.

Having said all that, today I no longer care. Let them do their worst. I’ve done what I can as best I can under the circumstances.

Again, thank you for your response. Best to you.