Delayed Blue Badge

[96ydduhc]

I submitted a request for a Blue Badge with my local council, filled out lots of paper-work and my medical history... council were fine, all they wanted was my medical records from my GP. Filled out a request for them from surgery and returned the paperwork nearly 3mths ago and still no records. Can't get a face to face appointment and i get nowt back from my letters or e-mails. Any ideas???

[sassy59]

Hi 96ydduhc, face to face appointments with GP’s are a no go but can you phone the surgery and ask them to please get a shifty on?

Hope you get things sorted soon. Xx

[96ydduhc in reply to sassy59]

Have done that pet, last time today... stayed on line nearly an hour and i was still only 12th in queue, i have a email from my old GP so I'll see what he says and the hospital i was in with Pneumonia and a lung drain.

[sassy59 in reply to 96ydduhc]

Good luck to you. Xx

[Carnival567]

Have you got any consultant’ s letters because that is what I sent. They want to know your medical condition and those letters should do.

[96ydduhc in reply to Carnival567]

That's why I'll follow up with my old hospital, but we only moved to the north west last Xmas from Essex when i retired. Not had a puff test at all at the new surgery. If i can get notes from old GP or hosp that may do the trick.

[Hidden]

That's very odd the Council doesn't need your medical records to process a blue badge. But you could phone your doctor asking him her to write a letter confirming your health issues, perhaps first get precisely the information that the council needs in order to process your application.

It would be entirely unreasonable and against patient confidentiality to provide your health records to the council.

[96ydduhc in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, i'll look into that.

[Hidden]

I don't think that health issues are directly relevant in Blue Badge applications. You can be suffering from every know ailment, but if you can walk required distance without crippling pain you fail. The claims are dealt with locally by non-medical people which makes it a bit of a post-code-lottery. Unless of course things have changed, I'll find out shortly when mine expires.

[Trisha1960]

Your application should have been sent to the local council who will then send it to occupation therapy group for assessment of needs,no doctors files are required.

[Badbessie]

There are long delays at the moment. I requested a disabled parking space outside my house as both my wife and I have blue badges. On their email it stated a period of four weeks for the assessment to be made. 10 weeks later some strange white markings appeared on the road outside my house. Two days later I received an email stating I could have one. I paid the money and six weeks later I an still waiting for someone to do the work.

[Daisy55]

Medical Records have to be requested in writing to whoever you are asking , so a letter to your Gp or Consultant , makes an official request . It is because of medico legal rules , it has to be written . Blue Badge applications have to be accompanied by medical evidence of mobility restrictions and the reasons for that , ie how far you can walk without getting breathless or for other reasons . If you had physio after your hospital visit , you could write to them too .

[garshe]

It's not your Doctors records needed for Blue Badge. I had a letter from my Respiratory team stating the distance I can walk before stopping to rest.check the criteria on their web site . The questions I was asked were. Do I have sticks or a wheelchair. If I'd said yes I was ok. My answer was no so had to have a letter stating my breathlessness and walking distance.. walking distance is less than 50metres make sure this is on your letter. Also have to be receiving an allowance. I get Attendance Allowance higher rate. I do not get mobility allowance. good luck. Keep persevering. Sheila 💕

[MoyB in reply to garshe]

I think all the councils make their own rules for eligibility. When I was assessed I was not on any allowances but still got the badge.

[garshe in reply to MoyB]

I totally agree .my first badge issued no problem then second one was not renewed automatic as I thought would be. My condition had deteriorated but made no difference. Had to get letter from Respiratory team and had to have attendance allowance. There were some there with no walking problems that you could see. They walked in from quite a distance carrying heavy shopping bags. But got their badges. When I asked they said they were receiving mobility allowance and car etc. Wish i had their strength and energy I cant carry a heavy handbag.oh well good luck to them xSheila

[Aingeful]

I have said this many times before, but get your local Welfare Rights team involved. They know exactly what to do and say. Good luck!

[Biker88]

My local council wanted to see a letter from a consultant with my condition mentioned. I used the letter the consultant sent to my GP. Also I have community provided wheelchair and rollator which is a question in the application. My wife initially had her renewal rejected and on enquiring why she got told her evidence letter was only signed by a GP. But once she told them over the phone that the GP was a consultant in the relevant field who had chosen to work as a GP, they issued a new badge.

[HampshireLass]

Did mine using photos of letters from hospital plus photo of prescriptions. All done online. Have to confess my niece helped me do this.

[katieoxo60]

If medical records are a problem , try contacting NHS england or your practice manager explaining what it is for. Normally councils only ask for a letter from your GP explaining how your illness effects your mobility. Your Gp is obliged to reply to your request with in a time less than three months and if not able to do so is obliged to give a reason for delay. Do you claim any benefits due to mobility issues? Do you attend a consultant ? as a letter from them often works better for blue badges. Hope this helps you. Good Luck