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GP Factual Report
- bgregg
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2 years 10 months ago #269388 by bgregg
GP Factual Report was created by bgregg
Hi all,
Posting for a friend.
I requested a change of circumstances on my PIP claim back on the 30th September 2021, I am receiving the standard rates. I received a review form which was filled back all in good time. I called the DWP on 5th February after not hearing anything and was told my ‘case’ had been handed over to the assessment providers on the 15th January. Fast forward to today the 11th April I have received a text saying I will be having a telephone assessment in 2 weeks time, I was browsing my online medical records and noticed on the 7th April the assessors wrote to my GP asking for a ‘Factual Report’. When I was reading this report my GP filled out I was shocked, firstly, they said the last time I seen a Health Professional was the 29th September which when looking back is wrong as I seen a Doctor about my Arthritis on the 22nd February. They missed 2 diagnosis’s off that table. They missed some tablets off that list and didn’t write anything at all when it was asking how my conditions potentially effect my day-to-day activities. They ticked ‘yes’ when asking if I could travel to an assessment centre. This is incorrect.
As you can see this report was a disaster and doesn’t go in to proper detail and they’ve missed multiple vital conditions, medications and missed appointments off. They said I could travel to an assessment centre when multiple NHS reports report me hardly being able to move.
My question is, will this go against me in the assessment and decision? I am severely disabled and feel like crying. My GP is a waste of time and yes I did ask for a paper-based which I guess was granted pending the GPs recommendations.
Thank you.
*Sorry for the long post, I will feed back views for her and reply accordingly. Thank you again.
Posting for a friend.
I requested a change of circumstances on my PIP claim back on the 30th September 2021, I am receiving the standard rates. I received a review form which was filled back all in good time. I called the DWP on 5th February after not hearing anything and was told my ‘case’ had been handed over to the assessment providers on the 15th January. Fast forward to today the 11th April I have received a text saying I will be having a telephone assessment in 2 weeks time, I was browsing my online medical records and noticed on the 7th April the assessors wrote to my GP asking for a ‘Factual Report’. When I was reading this report my GP filled out I was shocked, firstly, they said the last time I seen a Health Professional was the 29th September which when looking back is wrong as I seen a Doctor about my Arthritis on the 22nd February. They missed 2 diagnosis’s off that table. They missed some tablets off that list and didn’t write anything at all when it was asking how my conditions potentially effect my day-to-day activities. They ticked ‘yes’ when asking if I could travel to an assessment centre. This is incorrect.
As you can see this report was a disaster and doesn’t go in to proper detail and they’ve missed multiple vital conditions, medications and missed appointments off. They said I could travel to an assessment centre when multiple NHS reports report me hardly being able to move.
My question is, will this go against me in the assessment and decision? I am severely disabled and feel like crying. My GP is a waste of time and yes I did ask for a paper-based which I guess was granted pending the GPs recommendations.
Thank you.
*Sorry for the long post, I will feed back views for her and reply accordingly. Thank you again.
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- LL26
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2 years 10 months ago #269390 by LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by LL26 on topic GP Factual Report
Hi bgregg,
It is hard to know at this stage if the GP report will go against you, but it is possible, especially since DWP will no doubt dwell on the inaccuracies!
There are 2 major issues here, firstly that your GP notes are possibly not up to date - which means that you are not necessarily getting the right medicines and a proper continuity of care. And, secondly, this has had the knock-on effect that potentially DWP will get the wrong impression.
I guess you could make a complaint to your surgery and ask for a rectification. Or perhaps ask for a copy of your actual GP notes to send in, if this is actually correct. However, you don't have much time, so speed is of the essence. If you can get either a correction on the form (unlikely but possible) or a correct version of your notes send this in with a covering letter explaining that the GP Factual Report had errors, and explain these - the GP notes if correct should show all your appointments and medicines. An up to date prescription list could also be sent.
Who told you that you couldn't physically attend an assessment? Is that written in your GP notes, or did this come from the hospital? Try and find a source for the comment, and see if you can find it in writing. If so, you should also send that comment in (send again if already sent, and refer to it in your letter.)
Even if you do this, it may not make a difference at this stage, but will be good 'ammunition' if you do need to make a mandatory reconsideration request later.
Even without any formal proof of the errors, you can certainly write to or phone DWP and tell them, and tell the assessor too.
However, it may also be that the incorrect report from the GP won't actually make any difference. If most of the information is correct, and the claim form/any other medical reports clearly indicate your disabilities then these alone may be sufficient. If your health (ie ability to do PIP activities) has remained largely the same, DWP might simply be minded to re-award the same as last time. If your health is worse and you are expecting a higher award this might be a problem.
However, this is all a matter of conjecture, and it is definitely possible to over think all of this. By all means send in a 'correction' letter, as suggested above, if you think this may help.
I do think that you might want to rethink your current GP. Maybe you can switch to another doctor who is more able and relates to you better? Perhaps register at a different surgery. But as stated earlier you can certainly consider making a formal complaint, but maybe at least until the DWP decision is made, in case a complaint may not be necessary.
I'm sorry I can't give a definite answer to your question. Hopefully everything will work out in the end.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
LL26
It is hard to know at this stage if the GP report will go against you, but it is possible, especially since DWP will no doubt dwell on the inaccuracies!
There are 2 major issues here, firstly that your GP notes are possibly not up to date - which means that you are not necessarily getting the right medicines and a proper continuity of care. And, secondly, this has had the knock-on effect that potentially DWP will get the wrong impression.
I guess you could make a complaint to your surgery and ask for a rectification. Or perhaps ask for a copy of your actual GP notes to send in, if this is actually correct. However, you don't have much time, so speed is of the essence. If you can get either a correction on the form (unlikely but possible) or a correct version of your notes send this in with a covering letter explaining that the GP Factual Report had errors, and explain these - the GP notes if correct should show all your appointments and medicines. An up to date prescription list could also be sent.
Who told you that you couldn't physically attend an assessment? Is that written in your GP notes, or did this come from the hospital? Try and find a source for the comment, and see if you can find it in writing. If so, you should also send that comment in (send again if already sent, and refer to it in your letter.)
Even if you do this, it may not make a difference at this stage, but will be good 'ammunition' if you do need to make a mandatory reconsideration request later.
Even without any formal proof of the errors, you can certainly write to or phone DWP and tell them, and tell the assessor too.
However, it may also be that the incorrect report from the GP won't actually make any difference. If most of the information is correct, and the claim form/any other medical reports clearly indicate your disabilities then these alone may be sufficient. If your health (ie ability to do PIP activities) has remained largely the same, DWP might simply be minded to re-award the same as last time. If your health is worse and you are expecting a higher award this might be a problem.
However, this is all a matter of conjecture, and it is definitely possible to over think all of this. By all means send in a 'correction' letter, as suggested above, if you think this may help.
I do think that you might want to rethink your current GP. Maybe you can switch to another doctor who is more able and relates to you better? Perhaps register at a different surgery. But as stated earlier you can certainly consider making a formal complaint, but maybe at least until the DWP decision is made, in case a complaint may not be necessary.
I'm sorry I can't give a definite answer to your question. Hopefully everything will work out in the end.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on.
LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: bgregg
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- bgregg
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2 years 10 months ago #269399 by bgregg
Replied by bgregg on topic GP Factual Report
Thank you for that in detail comment, I am going to help her every step of the way and I do find it appalling that GPs are allowed to bill DWP £40 for reports that are inaccurate and in most boxes have no writing in them at all! I think at this point it’s best to complete the assessment and be as honest as possible and once we have received the PA4 afterwards plan for the Mandatory Reconsideration.
Thanks and I will keep you updated as we did use your guides on filling the review form out and we must of done that right at least for them to attempt a paper-based although it’s unfortunately not happening anymore.
All the best.
Thanks and I will keep you updated as we did use your guides on filling the review form out and we must of done that right at least for them to attempt a paper-based although it’s unfortunately not happening anymore.
All the best.
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