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ESA Mental Health desciptors and GP "Catch 22"

  • asdman
  • Topic Author
13 years 5 months ago #59810 by asdman
It seems in the WCA Handbook that for most of the Mental Health desciptors they make a big deal about you attending GP appointments. The implication seems to be that if you can see your GP then you can't get into the Mental Health support group.

The same applies to getting prescriptions from the chemist.

This seems not just wholly unfair but also totally bizarre. I have to see my GP twice a year to review my medication. It can take me up to a month to book my appointment due to a mixture of anxiety and apathy and I find going very distressing.

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13 years 5 months ago #59816 by Gordon
asdman

There is reference to this in Activity 13, Initiating and Completing Pesonal Actions, but I'm not aware of it being discussed in any of the other mental health activities, do you have any references for this?

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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  • asdman
  • Topic Author
13 years 5 months ago #59819 by asdman
Hi Gordon

It also seems to be mentioned in Activites 14, 15 and 17 in what I think is the latest version of the WCA Handbook; Version: 2 Final 25 March 2011

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13 years 5 months ago #59824 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:ESA Mental Health desciptors and GP
asdman wrote:

Hi Gordon

It also seems to be mentioned in Activites 14, 15 and 17 in what I think is the latest version of the WCA Handbook; Version: 2 Final 25 March 2011

The references you mention are to what the manual describes as "examples of daily living", shopping is another example that is included in most of the activities.

If you take their examples at face value, then clearly there would be issues in meeting the requirements of the tests. But these are simple examples and life is rarely simple, for example, you might argue that you see your doctors surgery as a place of safety, in the same way as your home, perhaps the surgery has a pharmacy in the same buiilding.

The bottom line is that being aware of these assumptions by the ATOS HCP you can document how you deal or not, with each of these situations as a result of your ilness/disability.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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  • asdman
  • Topic Author
13 years 5 months ago #59827 by asdman
Thanks again, Gordon, that's helped a lot. (One aspect of my health problems is interpreting things too literally.)

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