" Blue badge assesment "

[FRESHAIR]

Iam having a " blue badge assesment" next week . Could someone tell me what is involved ? . My main reason for applying is that after a short walk i tend to be short of breath and break into a severe bout of coughing - especially if iam carrying shopping etc .

[Gordon57]

Obviously you've filled in an application form already. You need to have put as much information into that as possible, as the assessor will only know as much about you as you have told them. Whatever issues and illnesses you have should have been in there, as they will be watching for the symptoms and signs.

Mine involved a test as soon as I got there. As I was collected from the reception area and taken to the assessment room I was timed on my walking, nobody mentioned that it was part of my test until after that had happened.

The assessor went over my problems, how difficult it was to talk very far, how I got SOB after so far, how long it took to recover and so on. He discussed public transport, how difficult I found it to use the buses. He also asked about medication I was on, as that ties in with the conditions I had declared.

They also take into account the length of time you've had a given condition. For some reason, having COPD or Asthma isn't enough, it needs to be a well worn in condition in my area.

There are times when I cannot even go shopping as the walking alone will be more than I can cope with, never mind carrying shopping bags too. I tend to use the trolley in a supermarket for support, that way I can toddle around, at my own pace. If I need to stop then I do.

Don't try and put anything on, like false stumbling. They are trained to spot things like that and will fail you, without telling you. Just act naturally. My assessment just happened to be on a rather bad day for me, I was at my low in the medication cycle, where I get a chest infection about every 5 weeks. I was back on anti-biotics a couple of days later.

[tanyamarie]

The main thing I would mention is when asked how far you can walk. Its all well and good asking if you can walk ???? distance but remember YOU HAVE TO WALK BACK!

My mum was asked and she said she could manage the suggested distance but didn't think till afterwards that you should double it cos of the return journey. Not to mention the walking around when you get there etc.

The staff at pulmonary rehab arranged my dads badge. Try that maybe if things dont work out. Positive thinking tho !

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Sorry I can't help. I filled in the form and said on it I have COPD Stage 3 ( It came up as 4 in the hospital tests ) and found it hard to walk too far. No assessment, They just sent the badge through a few days later.

Everyone should move to East Anglia !

[tanyamarie in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

Id move to East Anglia if just for the sun.......is it me Puff or does it always seem to be sunny there on the weather reports??????

[Puffthemagicdragon]

We do seem to get our fair share of sun. It only snowed once last winter and the snow laid on the ground for about 2 days. The rest of the country got it all !

[nobilee]

Thankyou to everyone for all this information its invaluable to a novice like me.xx

[blackbird]

Hi Freshair -

my mother of 78 has just failed her blue badge assesssment - she has

cronic Asthma, Chrohns, and is an injectable diabetic so cannot be unattend in case of diabetic hypo. She has held her blue badge for five years after being advised to do so from her doctor!

- why she failed - She had used inhaler when resting at reception before assement started and thus was not observed to do so --- hence she failed assement as 'she did not use inhaler! '.

The test starts at reception when they meet you - so no account was taken for the rest she took at reception before test started - also they watch and assess as you are leaving. So don't be embrassed to rest if you need too my mother felt too embrassed to rest as being watched by a stranger ! so rest if you need too. MUm just puffed her way back to car to take another puff ! but this again would not be observed.

Also make sure they know about any Other health conditions which hinder walking. I don't think mum gave them enough information reguarding problums she can incur with walking because of being diabetic for example hypos/leg infections ect.

If you do not pass assessment you can appeal in 30 days.

At present mum is appealing with the help Age Concern.

Good Advice from Gorden and I hope something here helps good luck.