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I think it has got to the stage where it is worth the claimant secretly recording the assessment on a smart phone, given it is not illegal in the UK and covert recordings can be accepted as evidence in our courts. It's probably relatively easy to do this if you have a companion with you.

My pharmacy won't pack my Tramadol into the dossette cartridges they use for all my tablets, although they will do this with my other pain killers. Even though I continually risk over-dosing for the very reason you have cited! It's crazy.

Yes, again, they do not understand that memory clinics are for people who have dementia type problems (who lack - even if variably - 'insight' and will eventually show evidence of long-term memory problems), not for those with 'executive function', working memory and/or short-term memory...

Yes, the ATOS workbook is specifically written for these types of health professionals, not doctors.

I think there is a major misunderstanding within medicine around the issue of 'having insight' verses having significant cognitive and executive function problems. This is also a problem for many so called 'high functioning' [sic] autistic people seeking support. It is perfectly possible to...

I have severe M.E., but this is not the reason I was awarded points in these cognitive areas. I was fortunately able to make use of my formal dyslexia/dyspraxia/Irlen Syndrome Ed Psych reports and, in my last PIP assessment, my autism report. Even with these reports, the severe cognitive...

I agree it's vital to fill in the form specifically referencing one's difficulties. However, from the MEA and the amount of appeals of people with ME, there is clearly a problem. The training of the 'Health Professional' via these workbooks has primed them to believe (as the workbook...

Having just re-read this workbook, it is evident that ATOS do not consider cognitive problems as part of 'CFS/ME'. The guide specifies that points should only be awarded under these descriptors if the claimant reports 'having cognitive difficulties in addition to their CFS/ME'. Maybe something...

I don't know about Capita, however I came across the 2016 ATOS CFS/ME workbook that had been scanned and put on the internet by an ex-assessor (who quickly became disillusioned when working for Atos). I tried to upload it here (I don't have the link anymore) but have got a message saying the...

The DWP does publish the generic guidelines, e.g. : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals I suspect the contracted providers only create their own guidelines for the most common and what they consider to be the most complex...

The guidance currently used by Maximus can be viewed by scrolling down and following the links at: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ebm_lima_and_any_other_guideline It is notable that Maximus used the 'allowable exemptions' to redact the case studies in the CFS/ME guide!

It couldn't be that it was specifically designed to provide evidence of the efficacy of CBT on fatigue...

I think this points to their lack of understanding of PEM in ME (or CFS), just focusing on 'fatigue'. My mum died at the age of 84 (of heart failure), by which time she had a lot of medical conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes and rheumatism. However, right up until the day she died she could get...

Ah, I suggested 1st year rather than 3rd year (when students in the UK are generally doing their honours project) because that is when most students start aligning themselves with their favoured lecturers and are often easily influenced and manipulated (unless very critically minded)!

I anticipate that this may be used to close the 'specialist CFS/ME' services and replace them with the IAPT MUS-CFS ones, since every CCG must now commission these (whereas many do not even have any specialist 'CFS/ME' services) and the IAPT model has been built on 'monitoring outcomes'. I know...

So is it a first year undergrad project?

Thanks for asking that question - this is really useful information to have readily available.

It's the insiduous way that IAPT is taking over that I worry about. It still seems to be expanding 'under the radar' as far as I can tell. It's only being on this forum that enabled me to see what's happening in this area. Where are all the ME charities on this? Not only is it GET type CBT, but...

Given the rollout of the IAPT Medically Unexplained Symtoms 'management services', with the CFS category using the Chaldler Fatigue Scale and giving all these patients a 'somatising' ICD code, if anyone is able (unfortunately beyond me with my current circumstances) it would be good to submit...

There is a current discussion on this questionnaire on this thread: https://www.s4me.info/threads/bristol-cfs-me-clinic-researching-patients-problems-with-chalder-fatigue-questionnaire.10683/#post-196078 IAPT 'CFS' services must surely be an important consideration for the NICE guidelines...