It's not fair out there
Well done for publishing 'Speak Up', PN
January 2002, from Robert McColgan. Sadly I agree with some of his
comments.
There are huge inequalities in benefit support. I realise that a lot of
this depends on when someone was diagnosed; people were not expected to
survive very long a few years ago. But this means that people with very
real needs today are not getting the benefit that they are entitled to.
Welfare advice is dependent on where you live, and I have found it to
be difficult to obtain, even in some parts of London, and "amateurish"
at best.
I know people who are quite healthy, yet still get full benefit support.
Meanwhile a friend, who was so ill that he couldn't get out of his flat
as he was still on a drip, received nothing for seven months.
When I was ill for a few months I received no benefits, yet the person
who helped me out with shopping was getting the highest rate of Disability
Living Allowance. I was refused DLA even though I am in a wheelchair -
I was told that as I could still use my arms, I could therefore in theory,
peel a potato!
anonymous, by email.
It's grim down South
In response to your story about the poor standard of HIV care at the Royal
Bournemouth Hospital (RBH).
I used to attend the RBH Panel Suite HIV unit, but moved my treatment
from there to London several years ago. I found the treatment in London
in a completely different
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league. I was given options, time, advice and explanations and was treated
