mostly dead

This morning a couple come in to surgery requesting help to appeal against the DWP's (Dept of Work and Pensions)decision to deny the husband DLA (Disability Living Allowance. I write a letter there and then, emphasising his disabilites and explaining how they interfere with his "ADLs" (Activities of Daily Living, ie washing, dressing, buying food and preparing it etc). I close with the statement:

"This patient is genuine and in no way exaggerates his symptoms. "In my opinion he definitely qualifies for DLA"

But I know it probably won't work. I have spoken to doctors who work within the DWP and they have told me how their remit is to allow as few claims as possible. I tell the couple, who cannot for the life of them understand why he doesn't qualify, in view of the severity of his symptoms, that "in the old days you had to be half dead to qualify for DLA; now you have to be three-quarters dead"

At least they know the score now.

Tonight I am Heathrow bound, to pick up my wife from her week-long sojourn in the near east. I hope she will not be too changed from her experience, as she most definitely was last time. But that time she was away for nearly 2 months, so hopefully it will be easier this time.