ADVICE FILLING IN ESA50

Hi,Hoping someone can help me please, with section 'name of your doctor', on ESA50 I am not sure what to put as I dont have a specific doctor, doctor I was with for many years am no longer with as I had to move address. I am with present surgery for past 2yrs and doctor I have seen in this time has left, when I telephoned to ask which doctor I am with was told I can see any doctor or locum whoever is available. There are many doctors at the surgery so am a little concerned as in the guidelines it advises that your doctor should be upto date with your condition should the DWP require information. I had appt this week with doctor never seen before, and was in and out within minutes. I feel should any information be requested, that no doctor at the surgery would be upto date with my condition and could only go on notes alone. Any advice as to what I can put for name of doctor I would really appreciate. Many thanks Maggie

Hi MAGGIE

I think you should state on the ESA50 on your additional sheets that your regular doctor has left the surgery.

When you saw a doctor this week for a few minutes, I take it that you didn't have the chance to discuss in much detail the health problems that you are claiming for. Do you still have time to make an appointment with the surgery to get evidence to support your claim, albeit from notes?

Derek

Hi Derek, Thanks for such a quick reply, my form has to be returned next week, I could ring surgery for (appt on the day)and given appt with any doctor that is available. The doctor that I used to see,who has left, I asked him for a letter to support my previous claim and he advised that they do not do them (his words "waste of time)" and he was the one that told me about this site. However for appeal and on request of solicitor he was very supportive. I am having to go through whole process once again and am at the initial stage of filling in my ESA50 and am not sure now how important it is to getting supporting evidence from the surgery. I am on repeat prescriptions, but have to make appt for 1 of my meds that they will not put on repeat. and as I said earlier, doc just gave me the prescription and didnt seem or feel the need to ask me anything. Should you say that a letter would be probably needed any advice on how I go about it with a GP I probably havent seen before. Thanks Maggie

Hi MAGGIE

It's unfortunate that your regular doctor has left, although as you said, he wasn't able to support you prior to your previous medical. I commend him for recommending this site.

It's always helpful to get supporting evidence from a GP, but it's not absolutely essential. What you write on your ESA50 is most important. I would imagine that a doctor who doesn't know you very well may refuse to write a letter of support, but there is no harm in asking.

I can only suggest that you state on the ESA50 that your regular doctor has left, and if you do seek evidence from another doctor and they refuse, you are free to mention that as well.

Good luck and let us know how you get on; I hope it does not result in an appeal this time.

Derek

MAGGIE wrote:

Hi,Hoping someone can help me please, with section 'name of your doctor', on ESA50 I am not sure what to put as I dont have a specific doctor, doctor I was with for many years am no longer with as I had to move address. I am with present surgery for past 2yrs and doctor I have seen in this time has left, when I telephoned to ask which doctor I am with was told I can see any doctor or locum whoever is available. There are many doctors at the surgery so am a little concerned as in the guidelines it advises that your doctor should be upto date with your condition should the DWP require information. I had appt this week with doctor never seen before, and was in and out within minutes. I feel should any information be requested, that no doctor at the surgery would be upto date with my condition and could only go on notes alone. Any advice as to what I can put for name of doctor I would really appreciate. Many thanks Maggie

In theory any dr reading your notes should have enough informsation to fill in the form, in fact the dwp advise to both gps and hospitails is that even a nurse who has never seen you can fill the form in as long as they pp it afterwards

best advice IMO it is go and see your dr and give him a letter for your records no more than one side A4 a put your name dob and NI on it title it stament of facts and start with a list of whats wrong and how it affects you ie very bad lower back pain unable to get out of beds some days ect ect even go as far as to list your drugs, i say that as some people have to pay and they buy there own as it can be cheaper than getting via your dr

even your old dr that you see for many years would had benefit from such a form to you a visit is important and you remember plenty of the visit but to your dr running late with 25 people to see then 12 letters to get written to hospitals has to then call PCT to get funding for someone else followed by a practice meeting then 10 home visits because durring the day they still have to visit the very old bed bound and the dying

so dont expect him or her to know bugger all

dont do it once do it every year, if things are worse say so, and if no better say your not recovering


drs look on the bright side dont go down very often things must be ok or your managing most here will say they dont go as its a waste of time. thats no good come the esa50 or dla review

Thank you both for taking time to reply, and apologise for the delay in thanking you. Derek - I will keep you posted, and appreciate your support and good wishes, with the help,support and guidance of this site, hopefully I will not have to go to appeal. I will keep my fingers xxxx