A colleague of mine put in a DLA supersession for a terminally ill client. The DS1500 is pretty clear, cancer in the mouth, too ill to treat, it's going to get him, etc. No problem we thought, he gets the money and can use it to make himself a bit more comfortable while he can. Medical Services are querying the DS1500 and want to contact the consultant. Blackpool estimate that this will further delay the claim by a minimum of 2 weeks (it's taken over a fortnight for them to decide they want more info).

Two things:

1. We can't see that Blackpool are going to override Medical Services and just give him the money like the humane people that they would like to be. Can anyone think of a practical way to speed things up without causing our client undue stress?

2. Is anyone else finding that Medical Services are challenging more DS1500s at the moment or are we just having a statistical blip? We have had two challenged since Christmas and I can't remember the last time they queried any.

How about contacting customer care and the client's MP? That might light a fire under them.

Or how about contacting the consultant direct and asking s/he take a hand. Similar thing happened with one of our cases and specialist went through them like knife through butter.

"specialist went through them like knife through butter"

I do like the sound of that, makes you want to be there to watch.

Had been wondering about the MP. We will be arguing with Customer Services anyway, but more as a matter of principle as they will be unwilling to over-rule Medical Services 'medical' opinion. Can you think of a handle we can get on them?

I will have a chat with my colleague with the problem (could have phrased that better)

Cheers.