teamspikey
21-01-11, 20:57
I had my medical assessment in relation to my claim for Employment and Support Allowance today, just wanted to post a bit about it.
I *think* it went okay; my appointment was scheduled for half-past nine this morning, but I arrived shortly before 9am and was called in at five past. My appointment lasted for 35-40 minutes (which I've read may be a good sign; one post I read somewhere said if you were in and out in 15 minutes it's not a good sign.).
I had a nice lady doctor with a friendly Scouse accent, and she went through a variety of questions about how my mental health affects my day to day life; such as:
How many hours do you sleep?
How often do you shower?
Have you ever been admitted to hospital?
What medication are you on?
Do you see a specialist?
Have the police ever been called?
When was the last time you self-harmed?
My mother was with me and she asked my Mum some questions about how I am generally as well.
I think it went well, it wasn't as brimstone-and-hellfire as I had believed it would be: the reasons for my beliefs being various horror stories that I have read and my usual anxiety about going to see someone I don't know in a place I don't know.
The doctor seemed fairly empathetic towards my case and had an approachable demeanour; however, this obviously could be just a front they put on to make the people undergoing the assessment more likely to 'slip up' in what they are saying (they refer to your claim sheet afterwards, as far as I'm aware - she had an orange folder that blatantly had documents relating to me in it).
She didn't try to pressure me into answering all the questions more than I was capable of doing so in the state I was in, and even gave a little not-sarcastic involuntary 'Ahhh' at one point when I was describing my non-existent social life due to my mental health problems.
When asked about accidents in the kitchen (I think this may be to do with your perception or awareness of hazards), I told her about accidents I have had such as leaving the oven and gas on as I'd forgotten it was on, she said "Oh, I'll just put 'Not Safe In Kitchen.'
As I've read people's testimonies of these doctors writing down the opposite of everything that people say, this seemed almost reassuring to me as it appeared that this doctor wasn't doing this.
Anyway, it may be that I'm looking too positively at things; my mental health co-ordinator told me to expect to fail it, so that's what I'll do; although if I do fail, I don't know how I'm going to cope and get by as I'll have to appeal it.
I should have the letter by next Friday (or a payment next Friday as that's when one's due) letting me know, so I'll update as the situation is.
Mel x
I *think* it went okay; my appointment was scheduled for half-past nine this morning, but I arrived shortly before 9am and was called in at five past. My appointment lasted for 35-40 minutes (which I've read may be a good sign; one post I read somewhere said if you were in and out in 15 minutes it's not a good sign.).
I had a nice lady doctor with a friendly Scouse accent, and she went through a variety of questions about how my mental health affects my day to day life; such as:
How many hours do you sleep?
How often do you shower?
Have you ever been admitted to hospital?
What medication are you on?
Do you see a specialist?
Have the police ever been called?
When was the last time you self-harmed?
My mother was with me and she asked my Mum some questions about how I am generally as well.
I think it went well, it wasn't as brimstone-and-hellfire as I had believed it would be: the reasons for my beliefs being various horror stories that I have read and my usual anxiety about going to see someone I don't know in a place I don't know.
The doctor seemed fairly empathetic towards my case and had an approachable demeanour; however, this obviously could be just a front they put on to make the people undergoing the assessment more likely to 'slip up' in what they are saying (they refer to your claim sheet afterwards, as far as I'm aware - she had an orange folder that blatantly had documents relating to me in it).
She didn't try to pressure me into answering all the questions more than I was capable of doing so in the state I was in, and even gave a little not-sarcastic involuntary 'Ahhh' at one point when I was describing my non-existent social life due to my mental health problems.
When asked about accidents in the kitchen (I think this may be to do with your perception or awareness of hazards), I told her about accidents I have had such as leaving the oven and gas on as I'd forgotten it was on, she said "Oh, I'll just put 'Not Safe In Kitchen.'
As I've read people's testimonies of these doctors writing down the opposite of everything that people say, this seemed almost reassuring to me as it appeared that this doctor wasn't doing this.
Anyway, it may be that I'm looking too positively at things; my mental health co-ordinator told me to expect to fail it, so that's what I'll do; although if I do fail, I don't know how I'm going to cope and get by as I'll have to appeal it.
I should have the letter by next Friday (or a payment next Friday as that's when one's due) letting me know, so I'll update as the situation is.
Mel x