AIBU? GP refusing my mum a blue badge

[JollyJunee]

I’m so cross with my mum’s GP! Maybe we are in the wrong.
Mum is in her 80s. She has a pacemaker and defib due to a genetic heart condition. She can walk upstairs but slowly and would sometimes need to stop half way up. If we were walking and there was an incline/steep bit, she would have to rest. If it was more than a domestic flight of stairs she wouldn’t even try it.
she walks the dog every day. Slowly, on a totally flat route. She has told me that on the ‘bad’ days she knows the spots where there is a bench/low wall and she can rest.
She also has severe diverticular disease and would occasionally have pretty big bleeds from that which leaves her totally wiped out for a few days. She asked about blue badge last year, and GP refused to fill in the form. Told my mum he wasn’t allowed to lie and she can walk perfectly well. But she struggles a lot at times. He told her if she walks and doesn’t get her heart rate up it’s not worth walking at all.
she saw new cardiologist recently with me. We asked him about it and he was amazed GP refused. Said he would write on the letter to GP about mums issues again. He is arranging a procedure for my mum and it will definitely set her back for a while. She saw GP again today and really fought her case, but GP adamant, my mum can walk and so doesn’t need a blue badge.
Are we being lazy so and so? I would have thought my mum was an ideal person for a blue badge? It’s really knocking her. AIBU?

Being disabled isn't a race to the bottom a blue badge specific parking space is for everyone who has a blue badge.

This, why doesn't the cardiologist do it as a medical practitioner then?
Poss because they know won't meet criteria but they get to look like the 'good guy' saying gp must do it?

Sure, but the whole system relies on blue badges only being issued to those who really need them. Maybe you have never been in the situation of going to an important appointment, or to catch a train, or to meet someone you love and having to turn round and go home because you could not park close enough? This happened to my DF, as a wheelchair-user, all the time.

Where resources are limited, as disabled spaces are, it is important that they are reserved for the people who need them most.

Letters from GPs are non admissible (which is bloody ridiculous since often they VC are the ones who really know).. you need a letter fro the consultant. You apply in line to your local council.
That said if she can walk the dog independently even with tests she may not qualify.

She's borderline for the U.K. criteria. The main advantage of a blue badge is actually the wider space so you can get a wheelchair around the side or if you need to open the door fully and assist them with a seatbelt- the fact it's very slightly closer isn't that big of a deal after all you are walking into a for instance large shop, an extra 2 mins in the car park isn't going to hurt you

The main advantage of a blue badge is actually the wider space so you can get a wheelchair around the side or if you need to open the door fully and assist them with a seatbelt- the fact it's very slightly closer isn't that big of a deal after all you are walking into a for instance large shop, an extra 2 mins in the car park isn't going to hurt you
no that’s the main advantage for someone who needs more space to get in and out. The main advantage for us is being closer to dustpans able to park in the town centre. We’d happily give up all the other advantages so we didn’t need two adults to take ds out. One to drive and drop off and one to be with him curb side. However we were refused, even at appeal because he can walk.

I just wanted to say that mobility is not the only criteria for getting a blue badge. My mum has one because she is blind. Up until recently she had no problems walking for miles.

I know this isn't relevant to the op, but thought it was worth mentioning.

Sure, but the whole system relies on blue badges only being issued to those who really need them. Maybe you have never been in the situation of going to an important appointment, or to catch a train, or to meet someone you love and having to turn round and go home because you could not park close enough? This happened to my DF, as a wheelchair-user, all the time.

Where resources are limited, as disabled spaces are, it is important that they are reserved for the people who need them most.

Well I have a life long disability so I have been in plenty of situations where parking is difficult . I'm just annoyed that the criteria of disability Is now so narrow that people are fighting over parking spaces.

Sorry I didn't quote the poster properly!

It’s also dependent on the council and country you are in.

That is bollocks. For many people with severe disabilities "an extra 2 mins" is the difference between being unable to go somewhere, or having to go home. That includes wheelchair-users, many of whom have other disabilities that severely restrict mobility, even when using a chair.

Lots of blue badges spaces aren't wider, btw. Their main advantage is proximity.

Your mother's gp sounds incompetent. Mt FIL has a pacemaker. His heart rate doesn't increase after exercise because it can't- the pacemaker sets a limit.
I think you can apply directly for the blue badge, as pps have said.

*My FIL. He's a tall man, but not a mountain, thanks autocorrect.

If the cardiologist was surprised, stick their name down on the form!

The GP has nothing to do with getting a Blue Badge. Go to the government website and fill in the form. Your mother will be called for assessment.

This. You do not have to be receiving PIP either. Just fill in the forms yourself.

Just enquiring

It would be useful if they had some blue badge spaces without the extra space, so wheel chair spaces and non wheel chair spaces then they could fit more in. In a supermarket it doesn’t really matter as like you say you can still park close without a blue badge but certain other places you can be walking say 10 to 15 mins from a main car park whereas disability spaces are nearer

I had an accident last year, was on crutches non weight bearing for 4 months and needed a wheelchair for anywhere more than a few yards but was refused on the grounds my condition was temporary . My MP intervened and took it to the Dept of Transport but they won't budge on temp conditions. I have now been left with a limp and still need crutches for anything more than a few yards and need someone with me for steps and slopes but PIP has turned me down one of the reasons being I don't have a blue badge and the council won't give me a badge because I don't get PIP!

do you know why he was turned down as even if he can walk if you are needing two adults with him then does he meet the behaviour criteria? That’s what we were awarded on as my son can physically walk but it can be dangerous if we have to park certain places sometimes