What should I ask my GP for ?

I am writing on behalf of my girlfriend, she has bipolar 1 and has been sectioned three times within the last 4/5 years. She has been asked to apply for PIP (ie make the initial tel call) . We live in Northern Ireland, and I think PIP was only here last year. Currently she receives mid Care/low mobility DLA

Before the form arrives we want to approach her doctors he will charge £25 but at present that is not an issue. What I would like to know is what information I should ask the doctor to supply, especially if we are paying for it !

I can guess: when the condition was first diagnosed, the dates and length of time she was sectioned for, current and pass medication. What I’m unsure of is whether or not we should ask for a prognosis or what else ro ask for

The first time she was sectioned the police had to forceably restrain her, and she was evicted from a housing scheme for those who ‘had fallen on hard time.’ Has anyone ever heard of the Shiels Housing Charity, it was established during the time of the irish famine ?

She attends a consultant psychiatrist on a regular basis. In the pass she has received private from a qualified counsellor and I do believe she will write on her behalf

As with a lot of people with mental health conditions she is terrified of this assessment. She doesn’t mix well, will not have a nurse or social worker and I’m really the one who looks after her even though we don’t live together. So I suppose I say that I’m her career. I’m over 65 and have DLA would that affect my claim?

Can anyone advise me where the centres are in Northern Ireland.

As always thanks for you advice

Kevin

Gordon, thanks for the reply

When my girlfriend was first applied for DLA we sent a somewhat similar form to the doctor but he was unwilling to fill it in. He is not an unhelpful doctor. In many ways he is pretty obliging but he has a big surgery and I can understand why he won’t go through a question like the one suggested on your sight. Bearing that in mind is there any other one or two additional points we could realistly ask him to address

Kevin

Hi Kevin if your girlfriend has copies of paperwork from her admissions / psychiatrists appointments and perhaps a recovery care plan all those things can help with PIP. Maybe if not copies could be obtained from the MH team. I found the PIP used all those things as evidence and didn't contact the GP, (nor did I include anything from the GP) I got the enhanced care award. Any medication scripts as well.