Hi
@Muddy Cyclist
I have a few things I would like to respond to in your post. I can't work out how to cut and paste the words as individual quotes and respond. I know
@OldButBold explained this to Saskia (and I bookmarked it)but it's too early for my brain to work out, so bear with my long winded way of doing this.
First, as far as I know GP's should still do home visits. They did vote not to, but it's not come in force yet and there was opposition to it.
I looked on CAB site and they say
"
Unless the
GP's register is full, or you live too far away for
home visits, it is unlikely that the
GP will refuse to accept you. However, if the
GP does refuse to accept you, then they must have reasonable grounds for doing so. ... The
GP must give you the reasons for their decision in writing.
View attachment 37005
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk › ...
NHS patients' rights - Citizens Advice
"
I hope I have done the above right.
You don't want to be fighting stuff like this at a time like this, but this rubbish happens.
I have always found paramedics to be absolutely caring and amazing, and they go above and beyond.
Now, social services....
Where I lived before, I was assessed and I was given all kinds of help, services, and equipment.
Here, where I live in Wales now, I have encountered exactly what you have. A friend telephoned social services for me. They said they had to visit me in my house. My friend explained I was deaf, and to text me only and not to do a voice call, to arrange a visit, as I couldn't hear to do a voice call.
Finally, months later I got a letter saying as you didn't respond to our telephone calls we assume you don't want our services. This story compounds and gets worse, and when I finally got someone at my house, about a year and a half later, she was exceptionally rude and I encountered pretty much what MrsMC encountered. And I needed to say to the social services lady what I needed. She didn't do an assessment of me and my needs, she wanted me to state precisely the items I needed. But I didn't know what items or services they provided. The interview with her went from bad to worse, and the vulnerability of having an obtuse stranger in my house meant I couldn't fight my corner.
She left and I was in tears. You probably have a good idea of the strength of my feeling about social services here.
We cannot fight these situations when we are vulnerable and in urgent need of help.
I tried to go further with this with the help of my hearing friend, but my initial stumbling block was always my hearing, and the excuse that I didn’t respond to their telephone calls (despite giving them text only/writing/email contact etc).
I gave up.
The only thing I can suggest is try the CAB, but local services are different in different areas, and you may need to use the CAB in MIL’s area.
There are probably other ways through this to get what MIL needs. There must be other organisations that will help you navigate this minefield. But at a time of this vulnerability you cannot be doing this kind of investigation and research. It is so soul destroying and frustrating.
I will hope and send my best wishes that you WILL find a way through this, and you WILL be able to get what your MIL needs.
I had better stop. I have written a long post answer.
Hugs and best wishes for all of you, and the other issues you mentioned as well.