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gp support letter

  • pjd
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11 years 10 months ago - 11 years 10 months ago #86125 by pjd
gp support letter was created by pjd
Hello,

I recently spoke to my gp about getting a support letter for my forthcoming esa form. She tells me they do not do support letters, and that they only fill in the form the dwp sends them to fill in. She says if my claim is rejected, and I appeal, then whoever appeals on my behalf would write to my gp and ask her to say more about my problems/conditions, and then she will do a letter at that time for them to use to fight on my behalf.

I know several people on here have got support letters so I am a bit confused why she is taking this stance. Do each doctor's surgery rules vary from one to the other? She also says that the doctors filling in forms from the dwp will be stopped in the future, as they now have their own system. Is this correct?

Any advice would be great. Thanks.
Last edit: 11 years 10 months ago by Gordon.

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11 years 10 months ago #86128 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:gp support letter
pjd

Unfortunately, GPs are not obliged to provide letters of support or medical reports, that yours is willing to do so at appeal is at least something, as many will not even do this.

The best you can do is to ensure that your GP understands your condition(s) and limitations, and where possible that this is done in the context of the ESA descriptors.

As to the DWP superceding your GP, there was a white Paper, sometime ago, suggesting that the GP be taken out of the loop, but it has gone further (at the moment).

Gordon

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11 years 10 months ago #86130 by Crazydiamond
Replied by Crazydiamond on topic Re:gp support letter
pjd wrote:

Hello,

I recently spoke to my gp about getting a support letter for my forthcoming esa form. She tells me they do not do support letters, and that they only fill in the form the dwp sends them to fill in. She says if my claim is rejected, and I appeal, then whoever appeals on my behalf would write to my gp and ask her to say more about my problems/conditions, and then she will do a letter at that time for them to use to fight on my behalf.

I know several people on here have got support letters so I am a bit confused why she is taking this stance. Do each doctor's surgery rules vary from one to the other? She also says that the doctors filling in forms from the dwp will be stopped in the future, as they now have their own system. Is this correct?

Any advice would be great. Thanks.


See my replies in this thread HERE.

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  • pjd
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11 years 10 months ago #86131 by pjd
Replied by pjd on topic Re:gp support letter
Thanks gordon,

She made it seem like she was not allowed to do a support letter, so thats why I was bit confused.

She knows about my conditions but says she can only comment on what my consultants say in their letters to her (often they are brief and dont contain a lot of what is discusssed - they keep it brief by just saying I need help with all aspects of daily living). It needs to be more descriptive than that doesn't it?

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11 years 10 months ago #86138 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:gp support letter
pjd

The ideal situation is for your GP and Consultant to phrase their entries to your medical notes, in terms that reference the relevant ESA descriptors, however, the reality is that this very rarely happens.

Failing this, all you can do is show that the limitations you suffer in the context of the descriptors, is consistent with you conditions. As an example; arthritis in your ankles and knees would be conistent with limitations in your ability to walk.

Don't forget you can also access your medical records yourself, see

Requesting your medical records

Charging for medical records

Gordon

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11 years 10 months ago - 11 years 10 months ago #86190 by lindat
Replied by lindat on topic Re:gp support letter
my GP was the same, actually said he couldn't do a letter just respond to requests for information from dwp and dwp just kept saying a gp or specialists opinion were irrelevant so they wouldn't contact him :blink: In the end my hubbie went to cab and they sent my gp a form to fill in and he did it great, stating I could not mobilise 50 metres unaided and could not self propel a wheelchair and went into detail on other problems! still do not understand why he couldn't do that for me but alls well in the end... I hope...appeal on monday :ohmy: for support group rather than wrag [transfer from long term IB without medical]
good luck to you
regards
linda
Last edit: 11 years 10 months ago by slugsta.

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