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PIP medical evidence query

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5 years 6 months ago #219688 by LilacGem
PIP medical evidence query was created by LilacGem
I got a letter from my GP to send them (DLA - PIP transfer - not yet got the form but my GP is retiring so got something from him before he goes). I saw him last wk, & have not before gone into detail about my care needs with him as have been getting DLA indefinite award for 14yrs (another Dr did the evidence back then). I asked him for a letter & explained my difficulties with cooking daily living stuff. He was happy to do the letter, but i think my care needs were new information to him.

The letter is, in the main good, but there is something in it i'm really concerned about but i not sure if i'm being hypervigilant/paranoid about it - my carer thinks i am!
So i wanted to get your take on it.

There are very good bits in it, especially about my walking, and saying she is severely affected by very disabling _ _ _ _, has made no progress & it which continues to severely affect her mobility, concentration, personal care"

But then goes on to say "she informs me that she has considerable difficulties with cooking, bathing, walking outside of her wheelchair & gets somewhat confused when fatigued".

Then goes into more detail about my walking "severely impaired" & says he believes benefits are justified in very difficult situation.

It's actually a lovely letter,

But I'm really worried about the "she informs me" bit, because to me it can be interpreted to be inferring that i've told him I have these difficulties, but he doubts whether i do or not. - which to me is unhelpful.

My carer says that the rest of the letter answers any doubt about that, with terms like "severely impaired & very disabling & that he believes benefits are justified. - And i agree that nothing else about the letter is in any way 'doubting', - quite the reverse, but i worry that those 3 little words will undermine the rest.

What do you think?

If you agree with me, how serious do you think it is - i ask because he is retiring on monday & not in surgery before then, and with the additional mental health difficulties i have I'm honestly not sure i can ask him to change it, I am petrified, and doing so is likely to affect me badly.

I have booked a call with him on monday but it's unclear if i will be able to manage it ( id don't want carer to ask him because she doesn't really agree & i will get paranoid about other things, It's also unclear if he will have time on his last day to discuss it with me.
I'm also worried that if it is imperative it is changed, he wont want to change it because it reflects his point of view - ie he isnt sure about it.... in which case i wonder if it's so serious that i should ask him to remove that paragraph & leave it as a letter with little indication of my care related difficulties - my thinking being that it would be better to have no mention of them than a mention of them that could be interpreted to have a kernel of doubt about it.

What do you think?
Am i being paranoid & you think it's unlikely to be a big problem, or is it as serious as i think & i need to go through hell& high water to ask him to change it - & if not to remove it?

any & all opinions welcome, thanks

I should also mention it will not be the only medical evidence - should have a good letter from my CPN too which will mention 'Activities of daily living' & possibly a letter from a neurologist but that isnt certain.
The GP letter without care paragraph has previously been enough to get me SG ESA 3 times without a face to face, i just asked for a bit to be added about my care needs.

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5 years 6 months ago #219716 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP medical evidence query
Camly

I'm afraid I agree with you, this and similar phrases are used by GPs when they are unable to confirm the level of disability being reported by the patient, so I doubt it's a case of him saying that he disagrees that you have these problems, just that he can;t state with certainty that you do.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: LilacGem

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5 years 6 months ago #219721 by LilacGem
Replied by LilacGem on topic PIP medical evidence query
Thanks Gordon, so do you think it's imperative that the paragraph containing that is either changed or removed... ie is it worse with it in there (in terms of casting doubt on the other, more categorical statements he makes)? or does it just mean they will ignore anything he says in that 'she informs me' paragraph?

Is it better to have no mention of care needs than a mention of them that could be interpreted to have a kernel of doubt about it?

I'm trying to ascertain whether, given my suspicion that he put it in intentionally rather than by accident, its necessary for me to put myself through asking him to change it & if he wont then to remove it. (Because having to ask him will cause me considerable distress).
Is it a danger to the rest of the letter? or does it just likely mean anything he says under that qualification will be ignored?

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5 years 6 months ago #219729 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP medical evidence query
Camly

I don't think it is a negative but it isn't a positive. you can ask him to just comment on the areas that he has an opinion on, your walking for example.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: LilacGem

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5 years 6 months ago #219733 by LilacGem
Replied by LilacGem on topic PIP medical evidence query
Thanks... when you say you dont think it's a negative... So you dont think it will cast doubt on the rest if it stays in.... I'm trying to ascertain

a) how important it is that it's dealt with - ie if my mental health is really bad & i dont manage to speak to him, will that ruin the entire letter? - ie do i need to take the risk of it making my health worse in order to protect the good bits of the letter?

b) what to say in response assuming he doesn't want to remove the 'she informs me' part - should i ask him to simply delete that paragraph? or will it likely be no harm with it left in?

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5 years 6 months ago #219740 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic PIP medical evidence query
Camly

I'm sorry but I can't give you a definitive answer, I don't know your GP.

There are two options to what they have said, by far and away the most likely is that they are saying "my patient has told me these things but I am unable to confirm whether this is the case or not", the second option is "my patient has told me these things, I can't confirm them which I should be able to do based on their conditions".

The first is not helpful but is unlikely to be seen as a negative, the latter is definitely a negative.

So you need to decide what the intent of you GPs letter is and whether you need to take action or not. I don't think it would be unreasonable for you to ask if they are unable to confirm your limitations to have the section on your care needs to be removed.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: LilacGem

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