In the last edition of Focus (No 10 Winter 2002) we gave an update on Welfare Benefits information.

We commented on the Benefits Agency request to GP’s for information. It would appear that the Benefits Agency Decision Maker decides whether or not to request further details from your GP and that in many cases they do not, relying instead on the report of the Independent Medical Assessor.

We now have sight of the form DBD391 (GP) that the Benefits Agency use and reproduce for your information. You will see that in order for your GP to complete this (even if he/she was only ticking the boxes) they would need to know you and your condition really well for example:

Front Page: Your personal details.

Second Page:
1. Please list all significantly disabling ongoing conditions present and advise when your patient was last seen.
2. Based on your knowledge of their exercise or functional impairment, please indicate which of the following they can do safely and without the help of another person.
a) Walk on the level indoors.
b) Get in and out of bed.
c) Dress and undress.
d) Rise from the chair.
e) Attend to their toilet needs using aids such as a commode if necessary.
f) Peel and chop vegetables.
g) Use taps.
h) Use a cooker.
i) Cope with hot pans.

3. Please indicate the category below which most accurately describes the patients usual walking ability before the onset of severe discomfort.
A 0-50 metres
B 50-100 metres
C 100-200 metres
D 200-400 metres
E 400-1000 metres
F 1000 metres +

4. What difficulties does the patient experience when walking, in terms of discomfort, balance and gait?.

Third Page
5. Can they safely be left alone for any significant period of time, and if not please give reasons:
a) By Day
b) By Night
c) Outdoors

6. Are they able to safely administer any therapy or medication themselves, and if not please give reasons.
7. Is there any risk of falls, and if so for what reason and if falls have occurred have there been any substantial injuries?
What is their prognosis, are they aware of it and is any further treatment planned?

Fourth Page:

Please add any further details you think might help your patients claim.

Thank you. Now please sign and date the report.

I understand that, in certain circumstances, this report will be released to my patient, their legal representative and any authority deciding an appeal in relation to their entitlement to benefit.

Signature, surgery stamp and date.

We also include an extract from The Disability Handbook which you may find useful to share with your advisor/advocate at tribunal stage.

51. Further Evidence and Advice
51.3.1 General Practitioners Factual Reports (GPFRs)

(i) A special fee payable to individual GP’s has been agreed whereby factual information based on a patient’s clinical records will be provided. The fee does not extend to the provision of an opinion and so, unless the information is already contained within the clinical records, the GP will not be in a position to provide it. It has to be understood that individual entries in a patients clinical record are relatively brief and will usually concentrate on diagnosis, clinical finings and treatment plan. The records will not really contain any meaningful information relating to care and mobility needs. In general therefore GP factual reports can provide useful information on the diagnosis and overall severity of a persons disabling condition. It will not usually be appropriate to ask specific questions about the help a patient requires unless there appears to be gross under or over representation of those in the claim pack.

(ii) Where a person has a number of different conditions which are being investigated and treated by a variety of hospital departments, the GP’s records will be the place where all this information is co-ordinated. In these circumstances the GP may well be able to indicate the relative importance of the various conditions in terms of there effect on the patients day to day life.

The point was argued at a recent tribunal - if this was true of GPFR’s then it was equally true of any other GP report, including Form DBD 391 (GP). The tribunal agreed, and also (off the record, I assume,) said that the questions were not what they wanted to know, anyway. Only a part of the submission, but it helped the case.

The other sections of chapter 51 refer to other types of reports, including hospital consultant reports, and could also be useful. It would appear that they are pushing consultant reports, and could also be useful. It would appear that they are pushing for EMO reports as the best form of proof.

We have often recommended you keep in regular contact with your GP, as much to keep him/her up to date with your particular needs. It would seem sound advice especially if you are seeking welfare benefits or are undergoing re-assessment.