Look out for doctors

[tonkatojo]

It would now appear that our local doctors are not qualified to ascertain who is sick and who is not, yet another tory brown nose has come up with jobs for the tory Gestapo or ex wot nots backed by the Chamber of Commerce to degrade the expertise of all GP's. No doubt it will be the same brand of idiots that assess the disabled that will tell you you are not sick even if you have to crawl to work and then if you cannot do your usual work push a broom in front of you to clean the street on your way to work and once there carry on and clean the bosses parking space via the work place. Reading this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15801515

P (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15801515)S: I might have been a bit hard on the tory's it might have been a lib-dem or even a joint con-dem policy.

[orkneycadian]

Its a sad fact that anyone, whether it be a GP or a independant assessor has to sign anyone off - If employees never threw sickies and were always honest about illness, then there would be no need for GP's or others to provide certification for those that are genuinely ill - It could just be done on trust.

[theone]

The BBC reports that the aim is to get 1 in 5 people off "the sick".

I'm not surprised such moves are being planned after "a survey suggested 77% of GPs had admitted they signed people off sick for reasons other than their physical health"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15801515

I don't have a problem with this. Those who have a genuine illness or disbility should have nothing to fear.

[tonkatojo]

The BBC reports that the aim is to get 1 in 5 people off "the sick".

I'm not surprised such moves are being planned after "a survey suggested 77% of GPs had admitted they signed people off sick for reasons other than their physical health"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15801515

I don't have a problem with this. Those who have a genuine illness or disbility should have nothing to fear.

Are you aware that 39% win on appeal against disability being taken away ! and no payments in the months it takes to go through the system, we are all aware of the fakes but surely it is not impossible to spot them, even with my eyesight I know I can most times. Now in their wisdom the current government are making sure there is no way you can object they have it wrong unless you can afford it with this item of nonsense http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.com/2011/10/threat-to-legal-aid-for-benefit-appeals.html . Honestly I cannot understand how that person the prime minister can look in the mirror and see the person that made all his "pledges and promises", I'm damn sure I don't see him other than a deceitful rich typical obnoxious tory with no experience of the typical working people of this country.

[tonkatojo]

Its a sad fact that anyone, whether it be a GP or a independant assessor has to sign anyone off - If employees never threw sickies and were always honest about illness, then there would be no need for GP's or others to provide certification for those that are genuinely ill - It could just be done on trust.

I really cannot fault your above statement, but isn't it typical, class all the same being the only answer. There must be a fairer way, like belief in the integrity of the GPs or assessment in the GPs themselves and if they are not capable of doing their job sack them, I am led to believe there are numerous ones who cannot get a job like the rest of us.

[Maccy]

Its a sad fact that anyone, whether it be a GP or a independant assessor has to sign anyone off - If employees never threw sickies and were always honest about illness, then there would be no need for GP's or others to provide certification for those that are genuinely ill - It could just be done on trust.

What a load of rubish.

[orkneycadian]

Have you thought about all the extra pressure this puts on GP's? They are there primarily to help those who need their help - Not to be arbiters and certifiers of illness that may not even need their intervention, or for which there is nothing they can do. So all they are doing is an admin task in between employers and employees, when they should be getting on with the work of treating people.

And once again, there is this belief that as a country, we are awash with so much money we can have folk like doctors doing whatever menial tasks we want them to do - If they are overstretched with that, heck, lets just employ another 50,000 of them. But we don't have that cash, so we can't.

[Gronnuck]

I'm all for relieving GPs of the task of repeatedly signing people off sick. After the initial diagnosis and signing off period the patient should then be passed on to a medical board or tribunal. This would ensure independence and stop malingerers who cost us all a lot of money. If a person is incurable or genuinely sick they would have nothing to fear. If their illness is temporary they know what’s expected of them.

[theone]

Are you aware that 39% win on appeal against disability being taken away ! and no payments in the months it takes to go through the system, we are all aware of the fakes but surely it is not impossible to spot them, even with my eyesight I know I can most times. Now in their wisdom the current government are making sure there is no way you can object they have it wrong unless you can afford it with this item of nonsense............

We're not talking just about disability benefit here. We're talking about long term sick. People signed off for months on end with "illnesses". "Illnesses" that 77% of doctors admit haven't existed, but the claimant has recieved benefit.

That's fraud in my book.


I'm damn sure I don't see him other than a deceitful rich typical obnoxious tory with no experience of the typical working people of this country.

I must admit I don't often agree with him either, but as a typical working taxpayer in this country I want to see less of my tax being spent propping up those defrauding the system.

[Alice in Blunderland]

I would have thought that doctors being among those who pay a heavy proportion of tax from their salary would also like to see less of the taxpayers money propping up those who defraud the system. The big problem is that how do you know for sure what is or is not a lie ?

I have a sore back, I have a sore leg some of the favourite excuses no doubt ?? how you show they are not in pain ?

I am depressed. Can anyone tell me how you can show they are not suffering from depression?

Remember most GPs have ten minutes per appointment to sort you out get you out and see the next patient.

[Maccy]

Some good and sensible replies to this, most of which I agree with. But how much will it cost to fund these new tests.
Then you will no doubt have a right to appeal, more expense. If your on income support will you get traveling expenses to the appointment, more expense. The use of a car/taxi/bus, fuel burned cost to the environment. What about the genuine people with mental health issues, this could cause them more stress and thus slow recovery. The list for and against just goes on and on.
I do think this government is just trying to make us believe that they know what they are doing. Why dont they just ask the fat cat bankers to pay back what they owe the Country instead of paying these ridiculous bonuses.

[Garnet]

Justa few thoughts.....we all know the 'signed off sick' is being abused by some so, if GP isn't sure then pass patient on to a 'specialist' in that area of sickness or as suggested, another 'body'.....but they must be medically trained....isn't that what we have already? Also maybe if people were assessed regulary it would help cut some of this out! Generaly these Professors etc are people who have ever or rarely had a days illness in their very priveleged lives, just pray you never find yourself in the position of long term illness........Oh no we won't touch your was their cry! So why the need to introduce an NHS Lottery for, we pay enough taxes, cut the big wages that the useless ones at the top get for messing it up! And where are they going to get all these wonderful jobs ??

[tonkatojo]

[QUOTE=theone;905446]We're not talking just about disability benefit here. We're talking about long term sick. People signed off for months on end with "illnesses". "Illnesses" that 77% of doctors admit haven't existed, but the claimant has recieved benefit.

That's fraud in my book.

I agree there are those who commit fraud, but to get to the stage where you are disabled does not necessarily mean you were born that way, most times it comes through long term sickness IE: when your body is "nackered" for the want of a word that wont be deleted and it is not possible to be employed.