Tag: Lung disease

34 my patient will be in pain

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In his report, the first doctor
lists various serious health issues:
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
cervical spondylosis,
osteoarthritis.
In his summary, the doctor stated:
‘My patient will be in pain
on standing and
at the commencement
of walking. Whilst
on the balance of probability
he would be able to walk
20 metres in my opinion
he could not walk that distance
without pain
or exhaustion.
In terms of cooking
his very limited respiratory tolerance
and his difficulties with lifting means that
anything
other than
straightforward microwave cooking
is likely to be beyond
his capabilities.
It would be reasonable
to describe him
as requiring assistance with toilet needs;
the need to monitor and change his catheter
requires medical input.’
Despite this
the Department
continued to find him fit for work
and blocked him from receiving full benefits.
Three months later
another doctor wrote:
‘I am this patient’s General Medical Practitioner
and the custodian
of the primary medical records
they have accumulated
during their lifetime in the UK.
Following a recent assessment this patient,
in contradiction of my own knowledge over time
clinical assessment and
medical certification,
was found fit for work.
Because of my patient’s health condition
there would be a substantial risk
to his health
if he were found not to have
limited capability
for work related activity.
I disagree
with the outcome of your assessment
and support my patient
in his appeal
against your decision.’
Despite this
the Department continued to deny him
benefits.
His health – as predicted – deteriorated badly.
He developed pneumonia.
His weight dropped to six stone
(38 kilos).
Twelve months later
he left hospital
in an emaciated state
to take on the Department
at a tribunal.
The decision was overturned.
The Department agreed to backpay
four thousand pounds.
That money is now being used
to pay for his funeral.

[Liverpool Echo, 28/04/2019, Revealed: Warnings about dying Stephen Smith that were cruelly ignored by the DWP]

40 a decision was taken

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His daughter received a text
and immediately knew something was wrong.
The decision was taken
despite being told by his doctor
he was too sick to return to his job.
(He had been a painter and decorator.)
He had suffered from anxiety and depression
for six years. He also had
breathing problems
caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Department had written to him
a year earlier
requesting a consultation in July.
Four days before the medical
he attended his doctor’s surgery
in a state of panic.
He was declared fit to work.
Following the decision
he lodged an appeal
but it was rejected.
His support was stopped in November.
December. His daughter had been planning
to help him take his case to a tribunal,
but she had had to leave him
to go Christmas shopping
and to pick up her children,
when she received the text.
‘I love you.’
She found him
and performed CPR
before calling an ambulance.
Three days later
a decision was taken
to turn off his life support.

[Inews, 06/06/2019, Chronically ill father died by suicide after DWP declared him fit to work and cut his benefits]

41 a second, unopened letter

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She received a letter
from the Department
saying she should go back to work.
She suffered chronic breathlessness,
pulmonary disease,
depression;
she was a recovering methadone addict.
The letter also told her
her incapacity benefit
would be stopped.
She was so distressed
she took a cocktail of drugs.
She recovered
after treatment in hospital.
She regretted trying to take her own life
and vowed to fight the decision.
She died two days later.
A suicide note had been left in a sealed envelope
some medication was around the floor.
A post-mortem examination revealed
she only had a small amount of drugs in her system –
mostly from the suicide attempt
two days previously.
The coroner was satisfied
that she died
of natural causes.
After her body was found
a second, unopened letter
was also discovered
indicating she would not
lose her benefit after all.

[Evening Standard, 14/08/2013, Suicide bid of woman who feared losing her incapacity benefit]