Vindicated

Since we were moved from Farnham Hospital to Aldershot Centre for Health for Stacie's dental care, I have had nothing but problems with the NHS with regard to payment of the fees.  The whole time she was with Farnham Hospital, treatment was free - as it should be under the circumstances.  Upon changing to Aldershot, every time she went for a check up or a visit to the hygenist, I then received a letter from the NHS threatening us with a £100 fine for 'fraudulently' claiming for free dental treatment.

Each time I wrote a letter explaining our circumstances and the benefits that Stacie is entitled to and each time they cancelled the fine.  I tried to get to the bottom of why this kept happening and discovered she should be getting a different (higher) rate of ESA, so went through the rigmarole of re-applying (and the mega long forms it entails) and got that sorted.  Then the next time we visited the dentist, the same thing happened again.  I had a very unpleasant phone call with some man in the NHS department that deals with fines etc. who even had the gall to tell me that 'just because Stacie has Down's Syndrome, that doesn't entitle her to free medical treatment'....OK, I but I beg to differ!

So last year I then had to apply for an HC2 form which entitles her to free medical/dental care and free prescriptions.  This form ran out last month, so in order to prevent further 'fines', I re-applied.  I didn't get a new HC2 form for Stacie, what I did get was a letter saying that as she received the higher rate of ESA she is AUTOMATICALLY ENTITLED TO FREE MEDICAL/DENTAL TREATMENT and there is no need for her to have an HC2 form.  I would like a photocopy of this letter to be shown to that phone operator,  rolled tightly and inserted where the sun doesn't shine!  It is wrong that the disabled and their carers should have to jump through hoops unnecessarily for something they are already entitled to, we have enough to worry about.

...And Yet...

I still got a penalty fine notice from the NHS regarding my daughter's visit to the hygenist.  Had a very unpleasant phone conversation with one of their operators who told me at one point 'Just because your daughter has Down's Syndrome doesn't meant she is entitled to free health care'.  I beg to differ...
Whizzed off a letter the same day, enclosing copies of her ESA letter and the new HC2 form and complaining strongly about this guy's attitude on the phone,  and got a letter back practically by return post saying they were closing this matter.  Wish I could count on that - we shall see next time.

Why is everything always a battle?

Summer Break

It's the school summer holidays, when everything slows down and we get time to catch our breath before the chaos that is September begins.

Happily, since my daughter is now an adult, although her college days are paused until late September, the other two activities she takes part in carry on regardless throughout all school holidays.  This has been a blessing for both of us - it means she has two days a week when she gets out of the house and away from my company to spend time with her friends and doing something constructive.  Whilst she is very capable of amusing herself at home, I do get quite concerned that she gets herself into a bit of a dull and repetitive routine.  Each day at home has a very similar pattern and if I am not careful, she will spend a great deal of time up in her room listening to the same cd's over and over again and not doing an awful lot.  I do try to make sure we go out at least once in the day and that she accompanies me on one if not two dog walks out in the countryside as well as the odd special outing, but it is impossible for me to play entertainments officer from dawn to dusk and get on with the day to day jobs that need to be done.

So this has worked quite well - with the added bonus that I get two days to myself per week as well, something unheard of over the previous 21 years.  I get no other respite - I think we could apply for more, but my daughter is not difficult to deal with and we get along very nicely...most of the time!

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In September I will have a new little boy with Down's to work with, starting in Reception class.  It's been a while since I worked with the 'littlies' - I worked with one little boy for three years until he went to junior school and then last year my target child came to me in year 1 but didn't stay the whole school year as mainstream was not the right setting for him.  So I am quite excited to go back to the beginning - I love the challenge of a new child as well as being able to see the progress being made as we go through the years together.  I think I'm going to need my running shoes with this one though...

N.B.
Following the previous two posts, my daughter's HC2 form came through very quickly, approved and all correct, which meant that the prescription charge and fine that we inadvertently incurred has been wiped clean.  Yesterday I received a letter informing me that her Incapacity Benefit is about to be changed to the Employment & Support Allowance, which means more forms to fill in and possibly an intervfew at some stage, but the end result will be that she will get the correct benefit and once again be automatically entitled to free health care.