Quite, and critically the scientific evidence proves ME/CFS is a serious organic multi system disease (IOM P2P) so it is completely unacceptable for them to adhere to a scientifically invalid point of view. This should simply no longer be allowed.
Can Forward ME petition Capita and all the authors of that awful report you posted with the IOM findings.
Where does Capita stand if they have failed to ensure their staff think a disease is behavioural when it is physical. Of course such an error will make a big difference in how someone is assessed.
A client would surely have a strong case to appeal if Capita staff are basing their decisions from such fundamental misconceptions.
I would recommend that anyone undertaking an assessment, provide copies (of any or all) of IOM, ICC and CDC documents as part of their evidence submission. It would be useful on three counts:
1) You can use the diagnostic criteria, outlined in these documents, to help you to organise your thoughts more clearly as you complete the assessment questionnaire, and to reference ALL your symptoms as they affect you.
Note:
- Always bear in mind that you should be able to complete any activity
safely,
reliably and
repeatedly, when completing your questionnaire, during your assessment, or on appeal.
2) The criteria will also help to remind you to obtain any relevant medical records, and/or letters from friends and family, in support of your lived experience with this awful disease. For example, I provided GP summary notes which referenced my losses of power and reflexes under examination, my own 'poor man's table tilt test' results together with my 24 BP test results confirming OI, and consultant reports.
Note:
- Use a highlighter pen and references to help 'signpost' the HA and/or the DWP DM to the additional information provided in any appendices, and/or additional documents in support of your claim.
- Do not expect the HA or DM to request additional medical evidence as they should do. They only need request additional medical information if they believe it will help inform the decision process if memory serves?
3) The HA should have copies of all your submission evidence prior to the assessment, and are obliged to consider all evidence submitted, and not just rely on the assessment itself. Whether this happens or not is for another thread I suspect.
Note:
- During the assessment, where appropriate, I would always try to refer back to my submission evidence - along the lines of "As I stated in ..."; easier said than done when the brain fog kicks in, and why you should have someone with you in support if possible.
- If you need to go to appeal, it is always useful to be able to refer back to your supporting evidence if you believe the HA/DM did not take all your evidence into account when arriving at their decision.
Attached some files should anyone need/find useful?
