My Mum recently had a DST assessment for CHC and was turned down. I am appealing the decision.
My understanding was that I would write to the CCG to let them know of my intention to appeal and then submit my appeal in due course, which I would base on the DST, social workers report and the way it was all conducted, (mental health report done behind my back, no demonstration of Mums weight bearing abilities despite repeated requests at DST meeting at Care Home).
I have just had the attached response (sorry for the amount of attachments) and am deeply suspicious. There is another sheet to the questionaire, but I think you get the drift and forum software seems to have a limit as to how much I can attach.
First the cover letter, which is the second document that you will see below. So, the Appeals Co-ordinator (Squiggle by name, Sqiggle by nature it would appear - who is this person?) has decided that for me to proceed with the appeal, I must supply a whole wad of information that I never had to supply when setting up the DST assessment - I just wrote a letter (then another, then a warning that if they did not respond I would complain) and the ball started rolling. No proof of anything required.
Are they just giving me hoops to jump through for the sake of it here, as a first attempt to put me off? And who is the mysterious "Squiggle" who is dealing with this? Am I not entitled to a simple name of a person who is dealing with this?
Second is the Consent Form (first document below) and its attached list of requirements for me to prove that I am entitled to act on my Mums behalf in appealing the decision of the assessment that I was allowed set up without having to provide any such proof. Quite absurd, but what do others think? Is the CCG within their rights to ask for this when they plainly did not require it in the first place? Are they simply engaging in an exercise of time wasting?
Third is the questionaire, and I am a bit suspicious. An attempt to constrain my arguments perhaps? Not much room in some of those boxes and no space or opportunity to mention my own reservations as to how the assessment was carried out, where I think that the wool was being pulled over my eyes and the fact that no fully written response other than "No primary health need, all needs adequately managed" was given by the decision panel. Hardly a fully written response as required by the National Framework, which I am still wading through (page 50 of 140 so far).
Can they refuse the appeal, if I disregard the questionaire and provide fuller information in my own format? I am concerned that if I just fill in this form they will take it as the entire and full appeal.
Any advice, comments and thoughts appreciated, however, time is ticking away and I need to make a response soon that won't get knocked back due to my not doing things the CCG's way.
My understanding was that I would write to the CCG to let them know of my intention to appeal and then submit my appeal in due course, which I would base on the DST, social workers report and the way it was all conducted, (mental health report done behind my back, no demonstration of Mums weight bearing abilities despite repeated requests at DST meeting at Care Home).
I have just had the attached response (sorry for the amount of attachments) and am deeply suspicious. There is another sheet to the questionaire, but I think you get the drift and forum software seems to have a limit as to how much I can attach.
First the cover letter, which is the second document that you will see below. So, the Appeals Co-ordinator (Squiggle by name, Sqiggle by nature it would appear - who is this person?) has decided that for me to proceed with the appeal, I must supply a whole wad of information that I never had to supply when setting up the DST assessment - I just wrote a letter (then another, then a warning that if they did not respond I would complain) and the ball started rolling. No proof of anything required.
Are they just giving me hoops to jump through for the sake of it here, as a first attempt to put me off? And who is the mysterious "Squiggle" who is dealing with this? Am I not entitled to a simple name of a person who is dealing with this?
Second is the Consent Form (first document below) and its attached list of requirements for me to prove that I am entitled to act on my Mums behalf in appealing the decision of the assessment that I was allowed set up without having to provide any such proof. Quite absurd, but what do others think? Is the CCG within their rights to ask for this when they plainly did not require it in the first place? Are they simply engaging in an exercise of time wasting?
Third is the questionaire, and I am a bit suspicious. An attempt to constrain my arguments perhaps? Not much room in some of those boxes and no space or opportunity to mention my own reservations as to how the assessment was carried out, where I think that the wool was being pulled over my eyes and the fact that no fully written response other than "No primary health need, all needs adequately managed" was given by the decision panel. Hardly a fully written response as required by the National Framework, which I am still wading through (page 50 of 140 so far).
Can they refuse the appeal, if I disregard the questionaire and provide fuller information in my own format? I am concerned that if I just fill in this form they will take it as the entire and full appeal.
Any advice, comments and thoughts appreciated, however, time is ticking away and I need to make a response soon that won't get knocked back due to my not doing things the CCG's way.
Attachments
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