Some advice please,
My brother was widely recognized as being on the spectrum by his family and friends, yet never received a diagnosis or support from from his GP or a professional. Their is a strong history of Aspergers in my family, including a my own diagnosis and that of two of my children.
My brothers medical notes scream Autism to me when I read them (although I'm not a professional) along with a host of significant illnesses. Ideology of suicide, uneven development, severe Dyslexia, self-neglect, co-ordination difficulties, issues with organization and functional skills, the list goes on, but no one in the medical profession seems to have put this all together.
Despite having suffered two earlier strokes and having considerable difficulty with daily living, he was only on the lowest DLA Care payment (No Mobility) and placed on the work related ESA benefit, so from what I can gather, forced to attend 'back to work' programs which came with threats of sanctions for non-attendance, despite his complaints to others that he felt he was about to have another Stroke.
Last month he was found dead in his flat having Layne their for a week. An inquest was opened when initial findings from his autopsy proved inconclusive. Subsequently, the inquest has been closed as his death was deemed of 'Natural Causes.' He had a heart attack.
In his notes I can see no referral for mental health support and what I deem to be some significant shortfalls in his health care provision. He was diagnosed with Rickets in 2013, for which I can see no repeat prescription for Vit D and Calcium, but merely handed a six page printout on the condition. (For a severe dyslexic this would have been of little help.) he also had Raynauds Syndrome, Arthritis, Hypertension & ADS. From what I can make out (I need to do some further investigation), the practice he attended was also closed the same week he died by the CQC, who said, “Following two recent inspections, CQC is taking urgent enforcement action to protect the interests of the patients who are registered with the Surgery."
My question is this.
- Firstly, now the inquest has been closed, what can I do to find out why he was so poorly supported? Natural causes seems somewhat lame for a 47 year old man with clear and significant physical and mental health issues, but also for someone who I consider to be quite vulnerable and who in my opinion, should have been supported more.
- Secondly, how can I get hold of his DWP records to see why he was deemed to be on a work related ESA and the lowest care only component of DLA.
He was clearly not being taken seriously when he complained that he was feeling unwell. From my records he died within 12 weeks of his last compulsory 'post work related program' appointment. Under this time frame, is he likely to be counted in the governments statistics for those who died within 6 in weeks of being deemed fit for work? I don't think so, so he will probably fly under the radar of casualties in our current climate of targeting the vulnerable. (Current government figures indicate 2,400 died within 6 weeks of being deemed fit for work.)
Whilst I cannot bring my brother back, it appears clear to me that some of the pressure being levied on the sick and vulnerable is significant and may even be responsible for the sudden death of individuals under pressure to comply despite being sick, due to societies perception of scroungers. My concern is that many more may be victims, but not be counted if they don't fit certain government criteria, but what recourse do we have to help the voices of the vulnerable to be heard?
Both my own boys have similar significant needs and therefore I'm concerned for their well-being in the future. Has anyone else heard of similar situations? Can anyone offer me advice on how to find out more?
Thanks in advance,
Tippex