We are currently working on the report giving the outcome of the consultation following the Board meeting and we hope to have this out by the end of September 2007. People who gave their contact details when responding to the consultation document will receive a copy of the report (either electronically or hard copy) and it will also be published on the PCT website.
The minutes of the last Board meeting, at which the decision was made regarding the intermediate care services review, will go onto the public website within one week of the September Board meeting. This is usual, as minutes are only draft until they are ratified at the next meeting.
This ConDem Coalition is exploiting the apparent helplessness of disabled people by taking essential money away from them and forcing vulnerable people, for example, people with mental health difficulties. I remember, when I was a practising social worker, the horror experienced by service users when they received a letter summoning them to undergo a medical examination (25 miles away in Norwich). Some became absolutely terrified at the prospect and the stress of having to get to and face the appointment led to one or two relapses and hospital admissions. Against local authority policy, I always took them to the appointment, went in with them and supported them through the interview acting as advocate. The doctors at these reviews were employed by the Benefits Agency and usually retired from practice. They were also usually empathic with the service user and mostly helped to reduce the terror of the interview. The new 'Workfare' reviews which every DLA claimant will have to und...
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