Hi all

I am a welfare rights adviser in the CAB, funded by Macmillan, I offer an outreach service within hospitals but I am based at the bureau.

I am really struggling to obtain DS1500's from GPs, consultants are easier but take a lot longer.

I am not medically trained but feel that I now have enough experience (in post 18 months) to consider if a client would come under special rules. e.g. Breast cancer 1997, returned in 2003 now has secondaries in spine diagnosed 2008.

Even with sending the GP the definition of special rules and explaining that the cient does not have to die within 6 months it just wouldn't be unexpected I have been refused a DS1500. This is just one example but I have had 3 this week!!

maybe I'm just having a bad week?

Hi Emma.
I am and have been in a Macmillan post since 2004 and have experiened the same problem as yourself. In my experience it is about getting to know the clinicians in your area. As I'm sure you know his can be done in a variety of ways but face to face is best. I have to say in their defence they are not always up to speed on current diagnosis/prognosis

We are fortunate to be currently involved in providing a basic oversight of benefits to trainee doctors who spend time on our palliative care unit and should in the long term help them better understand the problems.

Some consultants are just a slow and non comittal re DS 1500's and best by far are the specialist nurses who are able to sign and issue DS1500's which often accompany the referral.

Hope this is useful

If you would like to discuss this further give me a call on the project number to be found on the Macmillan web site

Hi and thanks for your reply

I think your right in saying that it is important to meet the health proffessionals as the ones that I have made a relationship with are more willing to complete a DS1500.

I was visiting patients on the ward yesterday and managed to have a look at the DS1500 pad and not to my suprise it states that it must be a progressive illness and likely to die within 6 months !! (need to check the 2nd parts exact wording)

Any way I have a power point presentation to the CNS's on Tuesday so I will try and get my point across then.

Hi Emma,

When I started a project, holding welfare rights appointments in GP surgeries, I was amazed at the lack of knowledge the clinicians have towards DS1500's.

I found that in one surgery they had only written out 7 DS1500's in a year, yet when compared to the number of deaths recorded from chronic illnesses, this figure seemed pitiful. This shamed the practice into taking note of these issues.

They were also unaware of what the DS1500 actually represented in monetary terms to the sufferer, and the affects this has on their family. I always gave them examples of how important this money is, such as, when mum and dad, with 2 kids both work, then one gets ill and can't work, then partner is forced to stop work to care and income is reduced considerably, and DLA and CA, etc etc.

I also found some GP's were very concerned of signing the name to their DS1500 statement, in fear of reprisal's from the DWP, if the client lived longer than 6 months. I always had to reassure them the DS1500 is simply an opinion of one person, and the DWP can accept of decline that opinion, and if the patient lived longer than 6 months, the DWP will simply reasses that persons entitlement.

Also, pointing out that if a person is reassessed, that a clinician can sign another DS1500, if, in their opinion, they wouldn't be surprised if this person was to die within 6 months, (which is a favourite explanation of a DS1500 for me now), as some of them were not aware more than one DS1500 could be submitted!

Good luck with your presentation!

Hi. I have rarely found this problem, I generally receive them when I request them (which I do a lot). In cases where the prognosis is in doubt, yes, but not otherwise. I suppose all of our surgeries know me/us from continual contact as we all liase with the G.P.s a lot. On occasions I have had contact back from doctors who werer concerned that if they gave one it might make the patient lose hope or might upset them, and in those cases I have reassured them that I explain that I may request some further evidence from the G.P. and/or copy things from the nursing notes etc., i.e. not drawing their attention to the request, but not lying either. Don't know if any of this helps.


John.