A colleague's client has been sent a letter giving them an appointment to attend a medical examination centre and states:

"You may have been visited by a doctor in the past but we now arrange appointments at an examination centre because we believe this provides a better service."

Did this change from home visits by EMP pass me by - or is this new to everyone?

Obvious concerns - having to argue that just 'cos you made it there it doesn't mean you're not entitled to the mobility component. (Obviously post exam - cos the doctor doesn't make the decision does s/he!)

Interesting attachments - form ALC1 which says what you need to bring to the appointment including proof of identity - "your passport or three other different types of identification such as a birth certificate, driving licence etc" - any irony in that they only suggest two alternatives to a passport when you need to provide three?

Also a location map helpfully identifies the nearest car park, train and bus station with reference to the "approximately 5-10 minutes walk from the centre" - I guess it depends on how many times you have to stop - but doesn't comment on disabled parking spaces - and expenses are only payable into a bank account. Oh yeah - "You will not be asked to attend an examination centre which would require a journey of more than 90 minutes each way) by public transport".

Any comments? Is this already happening elsewhere?

Oh my God. I have never heard of this happening before. And I hope never to hear of it again!

Never heard of it either. Very worrying though.

At a meeting I attended of housing association welfare right advisers in London last Friday this was reported too.
The reason given for new disability living allowance claims now being dealt with at Blackpool instead of the local office in Sutton has been given as a shortage of staff. So we debated the reasoning for getting people to go to an examintion centre instead of a home visit. Shortage of doctors! Naturally we discussed the worries you have.

Hello Jo is this Sutton DBU based? Here in the far northern reaches of Herts I've seen EMP visits in the last few weeks from Wembley DBU.

This is such a worrying development.

Hi Andrew

Definitely Wembley DBU catchment. (Welwyn Garden City!) All our Herts CC residents are dealt with there!

I'm sure we can all envisage the problems this change brings for those who can't really argue they should be seen at home - guess that would be restricted to the category we would plead domiciliary hearings for. Mind you public transport across Herts is pretty poor so perhaps more will fall into the 'longer than 3 hour round trip' category? Bus timetable anyone?

Thanks Jo. Do you know where they were asked to go to? I only know of medical centres in Luton and Hendon locally which will be a long hike for someone from WGC.

When I think of the hassle I've had getting two PCAs done at home my heart sinks about all of this.

It is quite disturbing, but maybe you have options. The ICB require a medical DLA does not.
1.Can you get evidence to prove the journey is too much, so forcing a visit or organsing a taxi at their expense.

2. If they refuse , what about a DDA action. It is a much under used action against the DWP I have actively helped a client take an action under DDA awaiting outcome now.

3. As stated medical not mandatory as in ICB can claim go forward with alternative evidence.

Goodluck

P.S. your not the Jo who worked at DMBC are you.

Andrew - the client was sent to Luton.

Northwiltshire - another colleague has been in touch with the CSM at Wembley (our local DBC) and the response states there is no change in policy but suggests "this could be a short term measure to deal with a backlog of examinations". We have been advised that the client has the right to insist on a home visit and should have been told this (the letter sent to the client does not make this clear but does say to contact them if you cannot attend - not the same thing at all in my opinion!)

P.S. I might be - who's askin'?

Luton from WGC by public transport - surely an all day job (if possible at all)

Definitely a local watchover job eh? Do you think they'll amend their letters to make it clear? Yeah, right!

As there's a crossover with PCA/DLA doctors I guess it's just more efficient for that doctor to run thorugh a bunch of poor old clients at Luton rather than visit at home, but when I insisted on a female doctor for a client and was told "You can, but it will take ages due to the backlog", we waited precisely 8 days, and that was 4 weeks ago, so what kind of a backlog they have I'm not really sure.

We spoke (eventually) to Blackpool customers services - who said they knew nothing about this - they spoke to Wembley customer services, who said that they had only found out a couple of days ago: anyway, the outcome is that they say they are "selecting" those clients who they think can get to a medical centre, ie, have'nt got mobility problems - on the subject of any regs to back this up, they did say that there is no compulsion.

We've not had any of these in our area as yet, but coinsidentally we did have a TRibunal postponed last week as they could'nt find a Doctor.

Re examinations for DLA not compulsory I thought that if Sec of State refers you for an exam then you have to go, otherwise the claim has to be decided against you. (P161 CPAG book)

What DLA Customer services said was that it was not compulsory for their clients in these circumstances - if the client wrote in and explained why they couldn't get to a medical centre - distance - time - difficulty cos of medical condition - they would rearrange.
As far as I can gather this is not a new policy, but a stop gap measure due to the fact there appears to be a shortage of EMP's: unless anyone else has any other info?.

Further contact with Wembley suggests that client is contacted by telephone to see if client will attend a centre and it is at this stage they should indicate that they wish to have a home visit; so they are only sent the letter if they have already agreed.

Hmmn - intrigued as to the way the telephone call is handled! The impression from my colleague's client is that s/he wasn't given a choice. S/he certainly wasn't keen on the idea of traispsing cross county to Luton! However this has already taken place. Award of LRC LRM subsequently made.

Well - some may call me a cynic (and I am trying to be more of a glass-half-full type of girl - honest!) but the other side to the coin of "it's a short term measure in response to emp shortages" (my paraphrase) is that more people can be seen in a centre so enabling them to meet their targets for turnaround of new claims? Maybe?

Jo

That's not being cynical - realistic is closer to the mark - It is easy to jump to the seemingly obvious conclusion that someone is being a tad devious and thinking of trying to introduce a new idea via the backdoor - but one has to question whether the entity in question has the guile to actually come up with such a cunning plan: they don't normally do cunning plans.

Mind you, if there is any substance in your reasoning, it wouldn't be the first time a Department has introduced an administrative change to the detriment of the customer - you only have to look at JCP.....


"What this country needs are more
unemployed politicians".
-- Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)

Blimey - so I'm not paranoid - they really are out to get me!

Aren't realists just what cynics call themselves, Mike?

"I really really wish I could be somewhere else, somewhere else, somewhere else, than here"
--Razorlight, Top band (2005)

"Aren't realists just what cynics call themselves, Mike?"

Depends who they work for Jo..............................

And as the the cuts continue we will have too keep a keener eye on thoes back doors. "Cynical or paranoid" dictionary definition is ......welfare rights worker!

Just too recap keep eyes on DDa actions it is breached on so many levels by the dwp the literature sent to claimants is just a starting point.

P.S. your old sparring partner from the CAB take up campaign in Doncaster is asking - Neil that is.