Planning and following journeys assessors report

I requested the assessors report after I had my Pip review 2 weeks ago and I have been given no points for planning and following a journey. I have been officially diagnosed with functional cognitive impairment but the assessor does not seem to acknowledge this as he says the history of conditions shows no diagnosis of cognitive condition and he says that I seem to have normal memory on the day although he did not carry out any diagnostic test. I did say during the consultation that I couldn't remember things but he said I was fine. How does he know what I couldn't remember?! What is also very strange is at the beginning of the assessors report he has functional cognitive impairment listed as one of my conditions!? He seems to be contradicting himself. My condition was diagnosed by a psychiatrist in the local mental health hospital. I am really confused! Does a diagnosis of cognitive impairment not count as a cognitive condition?

Hi Gordon,

I didn't use the term overwhelming psychological distress as that seemed to me to be an anxiety disorder and I have a cognitive impairment ( short term memory problem). I did relate the cognitive impairment to an unsuccessful bus journey where small unexpected changes had meant I missed the bus. Throughout my form I did mention the problems I had with my memory as it affects all my daily living activities. What really confuses me is that the assessor says that I have no diagnosis of a cognitive condition. Even if the diagnosis led to no points I still have that diagnosis. If he had said that he did not think the condition affected me enough to merit points I would understand ( although perhaps disagree )but to say I don't have a diagnosis is very confusing?
Thanks
Anne

Hi Gordon,

Apologies if I have already sent a message similar to this one but rather ironically I can't remember!

I know that a diagnosis in of itself does not lead to points but my confusion is why does the assessor say I don't have a diagnosis of a cognitive condition and no diagnosis of a mental health condition? Functional cognitive impairment comes under the mental health team and the psychiatrists. It has a massive impact on my short-term memory and processing skills and effects every area of my life. I did not use the expression overwhelming psychological distress in my review paper as this seemed to me to be an anxiety disorder and whilst I do become anxious when my memory lets me down I did not think that was what it meant. I gave quite a few examples throughout my review paper about my short term memory difficulties and I specifically mentioned about 2 unsuccessful short bus journeys where a small unexpected change meant that I had given up and gone home where I spent the rest of the day recovering on my bed due to pain and fatigue. I also told them about the two weeks I spent as an impatient on a rehabilitation award where it was noted by the physios, OT's and doctors that I had a memory problem affecting all activities. I also said on the days I went out due to pain and fatigue I would be unable to carry out other every day activities.

Hi Gordon,

I sent them about 40 different pieces of evidence of which one of them was the diagnosis of functional cognitive impairment by the psychiatrist belonging to the Community Mental Health Service for older people. What is really strange is that the list of evidence considered in the report consists of my previous Pip report and only two of the hospital letters I sent. However looking at the date of the hospital letter that was considered it would look like it was the diagnosis letter from the psychiatrist! I'm guessing that this must seem a bit strange to you, as you indicate that this would be a reason to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. I'm just terribly confused by what appears to be contradictions in the report.

He also mentions that I had said about my memory attention and concentration problems but these were non-activity related restrictions to planning and following a journey. However my understanding was that this activity is primarily a cognitive or sensory activity which would encompass memory concentration processing skills?

Thanks
Anne