Home medical

simjan105 wrote:

Hi hope someone can help. My husband has a medical (dla) on Friday, he suffers from depression and anxiety, he also has a brain injury that means he has difficulty with digesting information and short term memory issues. He is already stressing and making himself ill, do I give him the diazepam to chill him or is it best for the dr to see him anxious and agitated( bad tempered and short). The appointment is early in the morning which is good because after the doctor leaves he's then able to take his diazepam and go back to bed. How can I ensure that the visiting doctor has knowledge of mental illness.

I am afraid that we cannot advise on whether a claimant should or should not take medication prior to their seeing an ATOS assessor.

With regard the capabilities of the "doctor", you need to remember that this is a disability assessment for a benefit and not a medical as you would expect to receive at your GP or a hospital, as such, the "doctor" will have received training in disability assessment which will have included mental health issues.

As a result, you should not expect the "doctor" to be a specialist in mental health, although they may be. I am in no way suggesting that this is a acceptable situation, it is none the less what you are likely to face.

Gordon