Further to my request under the Freedom of Information Act for the Agenda's and Minutes of the meetings, from January 2006 to present date, of the Disability Carers Advisory Forum part of the Department for Work & Pensions.
I am posting the data received so you can see what has happened in this forum, what was discussed etc..
Click here for the list of members and the date of joining the forum. THT have been a member since 2005.
The meeting agenda's from January 2006 to present date can be found by clicking here. Note this is a .zip file you will need to extract the documents.
Below are the meeting minutes by year. Again in .zip file format you will need to extract the documents. If you are interested in THT's involvement you need to look at the 2007 & 2008 minutes.
This data is important as it helps build the broader picture. I note that Medical Evidence has been an issue of an advisory to DM's advising that it should be sought in every case.
Note if you are an Apple Mac user. You would use "Stuffit" to extract the contents of a .zip archive.
PDF version
I haven't read the minutes
I haven't read the minutes yet but am not filled with confidence when I see that the only adviser for HIV related issues is Lisa Power.
REPRESENTATION
HAVING STUDIED THE LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE DCS PANEL, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE ONLY PERSON REPRESENTING HIV PERSONS IS LISA POWER.
AFTER THE FIASCO OVER THE MEETING WITH THE KVN FORUM, I FEEL THT HAS REFOCUSED IT'S PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO REPRESENTING THE CORE OF PEOPLE WITH HIV/ AIDS AND THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ILLNESS. PREVENTION MUST BE HIGH ON THE AGENDA, BUT WE MUST NOT LET THEM FORGET WHY THE TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST WAS SET UP IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHICH WAS TO FIGHT THE CORNER OF PEOPLE RACKED BY THE UNJUST WAY SOCIETY TREATS THEM.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE ARE ANY FURTHER FOWARD IN THE ACCEPTANCE OF PEOPLE WITH HIV, SO MAYBE IT IS ABOUT TIME THT WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO RECONSIDER IT'S STRATEGY ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PERSECUTION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF IT'S TREATMENT OF PEOPLE ON HIV RELATED BENEFITS.
A FAIR REPRESENTATION WOULD BE PEOPLE WITH PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH REGARD TO HIV, THE ONLY PROBLEM HERE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WANT THE WHOLE TRUTH, JUST CHERRY PICK FROM A HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS WHOSE KNOWLEDGE BARELY SCRAPES THE SURFACE
AS A PERSON WITH HIV WHO HAS WORKED IN THE SYSTEM AND AM NOW A PATIENT I SEE THAT THE FIRE THAT WAS ONCE THERE HAS SLOWLY DIED, THT SEEMS TO BE MORE FLUFF THAN SUBSTANCE, I REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN YOU COULD RELY ON THEM FOR HELP, BUT I'M AFRAID THEY WOULD BE THE LAST PEOPLE I WOULD TURN TO. YOU MUST BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELVES AT TCELL YOU HAVE DONE MORE FOR HIV INDIVIDUALS THAN MOST PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS HAVE DONE, I USE THE WORD PROFESSIONAL WITH TONGUE IN CHEEK, BECAUSE WHY SHOULD PEOPLE WITH THIS ILLNESS BE DOING THE JOB OF THOSE WHO HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE FUNDING AT THEIR FINGERTIPS. WELL DONE JOHN AND YOUR TEAM.
PETER
very informative
I have now read all the minutes and although you say if you are interested in the THT involvement to read 2007 & 2008 I note that Lisa Power did not attend any of the forums in 2007. In all fairness though I do not think any of the subjects covered would have benefited from her input.
I am VERY pleased that she became more vocal in the 2008 forum meetings.
Reply.
From conversations with Lisa she did note that it was difficult to get input but she did manage to get some BHIVA members to brief the DWP and you are right it all needs to be considered in the full context.
With regard to the C&W I know a little of this situation and guess who the consultant you refer to. I understand that a HIV nurse is completing the forms after reviewing the patients notes.
Where patients are waiting on a report they can approach their consultant with any worries of write to the hospital saying that any report requested by the DWP needs specific written consent & sight of the patient BEFORE it is submitted. This means that you get to see what is being submitted and have a chance to challenge it before the DWP receive it.
There is also a financial implication here. GP's can charge for and receive payment for such reports. Typically consultants in the NHS do not. I understand the C&W has also agreed a financial package with the DWP though I have no proof of this as yet - it is common knowledge.
Post new comment