Campaigning organisation Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) has launched an investigation into why some doctors are refusing to help their patients by writing letters to support their disability benefits claims.
A statement issued by the national group – which also has a Sheffield branch – says: “We have had a number of people contacting us recently saying that they have asked their doctor to write a letter stating that they need a home visit for a benefit assessment and the doctor has refused. Others have told us that their GP has refused to issue them with a Fit Note for Employment Support Allowance claims. We are very concerned about this, and we want to make representations to the Royal College of GPs and other medical professional bodies about it. “But to do that we need evidence of how widespread a problem this “
Doctors issue fit notes to people to provide evidence of the advice they have given about their fitness for work. They record details of the functional effects of their patient’s condition so the patient and their employer can consider ways to help them return to work.
If a doctor has refused to write a letter for you, or refused to issue you a Fit Note, or has even complained about having to do it, DPAC would like to hear from you by emailing mailtomail@dpac.uk.net
