i apologise for not blogging sooner than this, but we have recently moved to house that is somewhat, in the middle of nowhere! this means for now we have no mobile signal coverage, no TV reception and until October 1st, no broadband, so right now im having to rely on a rather dodgy signal from a BT hotspot.
So whats new?? well, i have recently managed to extract half of the money out of the DWP that they owe me. i am going to have to ring them next week as they stated on the phone that they have not received my GP notes that cover the July-October period, which is rather strange as i sent it with the note that covers the May-July period! am i surprised by this? hardly.
I am, though, somewhat confused as to what they are doing, as they have sent loads of letters to me in the last week, back dated throughout the last 6 months, like the one i received only 3 days ago, saying that my GP that ends on July 16th, is about to expire!! taxpayers money well spent there! so i will be calling them probably monday, when we have our phone line installed, to see where those duh-brains at the DWP are up to with my claim, as another recent later states that my claim is going to be reopened!
As for my health, well, there have been further developments there. i am currently undergoing further physiotherapy on my upper spine. my physio thinks that at least one more disc, possibly two, have degenerated, as i am getting more and more pains from my shoulder blades up to the base of my skull, and down my arms.
On another health related matter, but not about my spine, my GP kindly informs me that ear drum has decided to rupture, and now i am pretty much deaf now in my left ear! as if i don't have enough on my plate!!
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
speechless!
On August 9th i received some of of my medical noted back from the Department for Work and Pensions, only to find a Royal Mail rubber stamp on each individual one. at the time i didnt really pay much attention to them and just assumed that something innocent had happened, as the Royal Mail couldn't possibly be breaching basic codes of confidentiality right? WRONG! below is a link to an article by the Independent newspaper, i advise everyone to read it. this would explain why so much mail sent to the DWP goes missing!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/royal-mail-staff-given-access-to-confidential-medical-details-8118203.html
I am outraged that the Royal Mail has been allowed to get away with this, but i do know that they cannot allowed to do it any more! i have written a strong letter on complaint to the Royal Mail and i suggest if you have ever had sensitive mail opened by them, to write to them too!
As for my ESA case, i was told only after i phone the DWP, that they had not changed their decision during a reconsideration, and will be going to tribunal. i am still waiting for appeal payment that i should have been getting since the beginning of May!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/royal-mail-staff-given-access-to-confidential-medical-details-8118203.html
I am outraged that the Royal Mail has been allowed to get away with this, but i do know that they cannot allowed to do it any more! i have written a strong letter on complaint to the Royal Mail and i suggest if you have ever had sensitive mail opened by them, to write to them too!
As for my ESA case, i was told only after i phone the DWP, that they had not changed their decision during a reconsideration, and will be going to tribunal. i am still waiting for appeal payment that i should have been getting since the beginning of May!
Monday, 27 August 2012
A Reply From ATOS!
After i sent an official complaint to the customer services department at ATOS, i have finally received a reply from them, after "only" a month of waiting for it. their response has not surprised me, with their lack of compassion, and also not admitting that they made a mistake!
Below are photographs i have taken of the response letter. please feel free to read the letter, while i consider whether or not it is even worth seeking legal advice against them.
Even though complaining to ATOS might seem trivial and a waste of time, i personally wish that as many people as possible in similar situations to me, would complain. i wish nothing more than to see the back of ATOS and their worthless Work Capability Assessments, and seeing as though the government is not listening, im planning on hounding ATOS! making life as difficult for them as possible until they get fed up and decide that fighting with us is pointless, and ultimately, LEAVE!!
I would like to take this time to thank all of you for your support, whether it be retweeting my blog to others, or simply reading this, it is very much appreciated, and please feel free to follow my blog. i know that these times can be very hard, and know that you have my support too. we need to stick together to show these discriminatory idiots that we will not be treated like garbage any more!!
Below are photographs i have taken of the response letter. please feel free to read the letter, while i consider whether or not it is even worth seeking legal advice against them.
Even though complaining to ATOS might seem trivial and a waste of time, i personally wish that as many people as possible in similar situations to me, would complain. i wish nothing more than to see the back of ATOS and their worthless Work Capability Assessments, and seeing as though the government is not listening, im planning on hounding ATOS! making life as difficult for them as possible until they get fed up and decide that fighting with us is pointless, and ultimately, LEAVE!!
I would like to take this time to thank all of you for your support, whether it be retweeting my blog to others, or simply reading this, it is very much appreciated, and please feel free to follow my blog. i know that these times can be very hard, and know that you have my support too. we need to stick together to show these discriminatory idiots that we will not be treated like garbage any more!!
Thursday, 23 August 2012
DLA decision
after sending my second Disability Living Allowance application off only 2 weeks ago, this morning i received my decision letter. despite being in a wheelchair, in constant pain, and my ability to look after myself constantly diminishing, the "good folks" at the DWP have decided not to give me either the mobility or care component of the benefit.
according to the letter, the only point of reference that they used to make their decision, was my form and the ATOS medical assessment that was performed on me for Employment and Support Allowance!
i am furious that the DWP did not even consult my GP for updates on my physical condition. and i am also told that the criteria for DLA is very different to the criteria for ESA. i am therefore lodging a formal complaint against the DWP as well as applying for a reconsideration using medical evidence and not an illicit assessment performed for a completely different benefit.
if you, or anyone you know who has had a similar situation with the DWP, i urge you to question them, as what they are doing is not right, and must be stopped. they will try anything to stop you getting benefits, even if they know you should be getting them.
according to the letter, the only point of reference that they used to make their decision, was my form and the ATOS medical assessment that was performed on me for Employment and Support Allowance!
i am furious that the DWP did not even consult my GP for updates on my physical condition. and i am also told that the criteria for DLA is very different to the criteria for ESA. i am therefore lodging a formal complaint against the DWP as well as applying for a reconsideration using medical evidence and not an illicit assessment performed for a completely different benefit.
if you, or anyone you know who has had a similar situation with the DWP, i urge you to question them, as what they are doing is not right, and must be stopped. they will try anything to stop you getting benefits, even if they know you should be getting them.
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
spreading the word
after send my details and brief description of how i was treated by ATOS in my Work Capability Assessment to the Independent newspapere, they have been in touch, and are interested in publishing my story. i hope to use this opportunity to spread the word to people who are not affected by the ATOS and their dreaded WCA!
in hopes of spreading the word, i aim to make people see how the current government is hell bent of causing severe harm to the sock and disabled, just to save themselves a few quid!
in the current times we live in, i cannot believe such behaviour is allowed to pass, and pass unnoticed by the majority of the country. ignorance does, in this case, seem to be bliss.
the government are eager to save money, and i can understand this predicament, however, they are going about in all the wrong ways. i am no expert on financial politics, nor do i claim to be, however from personal experience, i can easily say that attacking the pockets of those must vulnerable in our society, is professionally and morally wrong.
on another note, i have sent yet another email to the customer services department at ATOS, after they have failed to contact me back, despite their assurances that their manager would be in touch personally. i am not holding my breath that my complaint to them will come to anything, but i just want them to know that i will not let this lie. once i get the bit between my teeth, i do not easily let go!
in hopes of spreading the word, i aim to make people see how the current government is hell bent of causing severe harm to the sock and disabled, just to save themselves a few quid!
in the current times we live in, i cannot believe such behaviour is allowed to pass, and pass unnoticed by the majority of the country. ignorance does, in this case, seem to be bliss.
the government are eager to save money, and i can understand this predicament, however, they are going about in all the wrong ways. i am no expert on financial politics, nor do i claim to be, however from personal experience, i can easily say that attacking the pockets of those must vulnerable in our society, is professionally and morally wrong.
on another note, i have sent yet another email to the customer services department at ATOS, after they have failed to contact me back, despite their assurances that their manager would be in touch personally. i am not holding my breath that my complaint to them will come to anything, but i just want them to know that i will not let this lie. once i get the bit between my teeth, i do not easily let go!
Monday, 6 August 2012
another MRI
i have just got back from yet another MRI scan, this time in Salfords Hope Hospital. i hate having MRI scans. im not claustrophobic, its trying to lay perfectly still on quite a hard bench for 20 minutes is not only very difficult but extremely painful. i just hope it was worth it, i hope that something comes out of it.
i was speaking to a nice man in the waiting room, who has a similar situation to me. he's had 2 spinal surgeries already, but his consultant i confidant that he will end up in a wheelchair. this does not bode well for me, as i already need to use a wheelchair.
he tell me that he gets DLA and ESA, but is having trouble with his coming up WCA, as well as previous ones. i filled him in on whats really going on behind the scenes of the government. the look of shock on his face was priceless. at least he now knows what to expect in the future with his ESA and DLA/PIP assessments.
the service i had at Hope hospital was miles better than that of Royal Preston hospital. the staff were really nice and chatty and would help with anything i needed, which is what i come to expect from a good hospital these days. friendly staff make hospitals that bit more bearable.
so now im trying to recover on the couch. ive taken all my meds, including diazepam, despite it not being the day im suppose to have them, but i don't have a choice. i just hope i can sleep tonight....
i was speaking to a nice man in the waiting room, who has a similar situation to me. he's had 2 spinal surgeries already, but his consultant i confidant that he will end up in a wheelchair. this does not bode well for me, as i already need to use a wheelchair.
he tell me that he gets DLA and ESA, but is having trouble with his coming up WCA, as well as previous ones. i filled him in on whats really going on behind the scenes of the government. the look of shock on his face was priceless. at least he now knows what to expect in the future with his ESA and DLA/PIP assessments.
the service i had at Hope hospital was miles better than that of Royal Preston hospital. the staff were really nice and chatty and would help with anything i needed, which is what i come to expect from a good hospital these days. friendly staff make hospitals that bit more bearable.
so now im trying to recover on the couch. ive taken all my meds, including diazepam, despite it not being the day im suppose to have them, but i don't have a choice. i just hope i can sleep tonight....
Thursday, 26 July 2012
you cannot be serious...
after ringing the DWP to find out if i need a doctors note for my appeal, they inform me that they have not received my appeal and that my account has been closed! this comes only several days after i rang them to make sure that they had received it. this is now the second successive appeal that the DWP have conveniently lost. luckily for me, i sent it recorded delivery.
they were very shocked when i stated that i had sent it recorded and can prove it was delivered. so now im waiting for a phone call from a different department to sort this out. im also waiting for a call regarding the complaint i made against ATOS for the way my WCA (Work Capability Assessment) was handled and the fact that the assessor clearly lied about what was said and done in the examination.
on another note, i received a letter from the office of David Cameron today, regarding my situation of ATOS and leaving disabled people with no money. you can see this below.
as you can see his office was very quick to pass the buck on this subject. in fact i very much doubt the Prime Minister even saw my letter. and this was suppose to be a "peoples government". they're a joke, they really are. and i think the company who supplies 10 Downing Street with their paper thinks the same too, as you can see from the water mark in the letter that was sent to me below.
they were very shocked when i stated that i had sent it recorded and can prove it was delivered. so now im waiting for a phone call from a different department to sort this out. im also waiting for a call regarding the complaint i made against ATOS for the way my WCA (Work Capability Assessment) was handled and the fact that the assessor clearly lied about what was said and done in the examination.
on another note, i received a letter from the office of David Cameron today, regarding my situation of ATOS and leaving disabled people with no money. you can see this below.
as you can see his office was very quick to pass the buck on this subject. in fact i very much doubt the Prime Minister even saw my letter. and this was suppose to be a "peoples government". they're a joke, they really are. and i think the company who supplies 10 Downing Street with their paper thinks the same too, as you can see from the water mark in the letter that was sent to me below.
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
trying new meds
after consulting my GP about how Tramadol isn't having the same effect that it used to do, she recommended i tried maximum strength Codeine for a while. the problem with drugs like Tramadol is that you can build up a tolerance to them, so after a while they don't really work. so now im mixing Codeine with Tramadol, and after only a couple of doses, im already feeling an effect from them.
so i will be using Codeine and paracetamol until i start to build a tolerance to them, then its back on the Tramadol again.
as for my ESA situation, my appeal has been received, and i rang up and they said my payment would be backdated, i just need to ring them back and find out if i need a doctors note back dated to my last payment.
i have still yet to fill in my new DLA form. not looking forward to filling that in, it seems never ending. but needs must, so i will be doing that at some point this week, and get that sent off.
so i will be using Codeine and paracetamol until i start to build a tolerance to them, then its back on the Tramadol again.
as for my ESA situation, my appeal has been received, and i rang up and they said my payment would be backdated, i just need to ring them back and find out if i need a doctors note back dated to my last payment.
i have still yet to fill in my new DLA form. not looking forward to filling that in, it seems never ending. but needs must, so i will be doing that at some point this week, and get that sent off.
Sunday, 15 July 2012
is there hope?
after being in contact with a spinal surgeon on twitter, he tells me that i could benefit from a PLIF operation, or a Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. this operation is comprised of the surgeon removing parts of the damaged disc, and inserting a small titanium cage filled with ground up bone from the hip and facet joint. then , using screws and rods, clamp the vertebrae in place, preventing further damage. the bone in the titanium cage is encouraged to grow, therefore fusing the vertebrae with natural bone.
this news is a sign of hope for me, and i am currently awaiting a referral to Salford hospital to see if they can do this procedure.
as for my money situation, i have sent off another appeal form for ESA as they conveniently lost my other one, but this time i have sent it recorded, so they cant say they didnt receive it. so i shall be calling them on monday, asking them to back date my appeal payments.
i shall be filling a new DLA form this week, starting the process from scratch, and with no "help" from the CAB. i will also be using a different GP to fill in their part, a GP who actually knows what they are talking about, and not just making things up!
this news is a sign of hope for me, and i am currently awaiting a referral to Salford hospital to see if they can do this procedure.
as for my money situation, i have sent off another appeal form for ESA as they conveniently lost my other one, but this time i have sent it recorded, so they cant say they didnt receive it. so i shall be calling them on monday, asking them to back date my appeal payments.
i shall be filling a new DLA form this week, starting the process from scratch, and with no "help" from the CAB. i will also be using a different GP to fill in their part, a GP who actually knows what they are talking about, and not just making things up!
Sunday, 8 July 2012
feeling old
it my 28th birthday tomorrow, but i feel like im 82! i finally managed to get my GP to prescribe me the Diazepam i need to control my muscle spasms, this took me digging out a letter from a private pain specialist saying that Diazepam is a good drug for me to be on, and dropping a hint that im starting to sue medical professional who are not helping me. he explained that the reason GPs don't like giving out Diazepam is because people have abused them in the past, this maybe true, but i know the main reason is because the government does not pay GP surgeries when they prescribe such drugs as Diazepam. the only condition they gave me is that they will have to put me on a 6 to 12 month observation, which im happy with.
so, my birthday, what to do? what can i do? probably not a great deal. this is the worst i have been on a birthday, so my day will probably be the same as any other day. we might go for a carvery meal on wednesday in the lakes, my favourite carvery in the world, bloody beautiful.
so, my birthday, what to do? what can i do? probably not a great deal. this is the worst i have been on a birthday, so my day will probably be the same as any other day. we might go for a carvery meal on wednesday in the lakes, my favourite carvery in the world, bloody beautiful.
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