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?

I think state pension-aged people can continue to get PIP if they received it when working age but not otherwise.

That correct @dianthus101. You must be under state pension age for a first PIP application. Then if successful, it's rolled on.

Just in case someone gets to the 3rd page of over 200 posts and doesn't know -

The OP and her mum live in Ireland, not the UK so there are different rules in operation here as to who gets a Blue Badge or not.

Also to point out to some people, not only UK mums post on Mumsnet. It's an international internet chat board, granted with a very strong UK following but there are people from other countries, other jurisdictions, posting on the boards.

Also to point out to some people, not only UK mums post on Mumsnet. It's an international internet chat board, granted with a very strong UK following but there are people from other countries, other jurisdictions, posting on the boards.

Yes, but considering that most posters are in the UK it is pretty pointless posting about something which would not affect people in the UK (GP don't apply for blue badges here), particularly as OP didn't even state that she was in another country in her original post.

NOT IN THE UK

dianthus101 I just didn’t think when I posted, I’m sorry. I do actually live in the UK, mum is in RoI. Hope it’s ok to continue posting?
Going to go down the consultant route, we will bring the completed form with us when we next go.
Which reminds me, I asked for the form back the last time, as it needed police signature and stamp etc, plus sending off for the form and filling it in, was a hassle for mum big time, and they had obviously binned it, which made me a bit cross too.

It's fine to post but I think you should have stated that she isn't in the UK in the first place. Rules will be completely different so people couldn't really comment or give any advice unless they are also in the ROI.

You’re not being unreasonable but unless you’re on PIP/ DLA you won’t get a blue badge off gp he doesn’t issue them but he could give supporting evidence for a claim .

The OP's in Ireland

To add to other msg it’s mainly for car users who get pip/ dla so they can park in disabled spots or if you have someone who drives you places you can use the badge but you have to physically be in the car with them otherwise you’re both braking the law and the badge will be revoked immediately.

I have a blue badge and I am in receipt of PIP, higher rate for both components with a review after 10 years. I got the badge before I got the PIP. I appreciate that the OP’s mum is not in the UK. But some posters have said you need to have one to get the other. But I got BB before PIP and PIP assessor didn’t ask if I had a BB.

I definitely couldn’t walk a dog.

Rubbish. I got my BB before I even applied for PIP. Why did you say this? You’ve just made it up without a clue.

BBs are an access aid. PIP is a financial aid. You could literally be a millionaire and need a BB, but decide not to apply for PIP as you’ve no need of extra money.

If you get hrm for dla as a child then you automatically get a bb. If you receive the highest band or PIP in NI Scotland or Wales you automatically get a bb, however in England it is discretionary (by the council). Personally I think it’s outrageous but England is a weird country where the disabled are not cared for.

I am in ROI and have a disabled parking badge as we call it here. (It is blue too!)
The problem with Irish mammies is the inability to ask for help or seen as weak. Fiercely independant, hate to admit defeat. My mother in law has heart condition and broke hip which has never been the same but a GP will see these as aging conditions. Add in the" oh sure I'm grand really" and he won't sign. Otherwise a huge percentage of over 80 would sign up. Personally i think alot need them!
I'm 47. Was healty,fit, worked in office,hair done,heels, make up etc. I used to 'pop' into a disabled spot just for a second. Sure they were always seeming handy and free. 3 years ago my back went, i have screws in. Karma!
Some days people will judge me,i see them, if i have make up, dressed nice and get out. I don't use a stick as hate them. I don't at first glance 'look disabled.' I hate that i am classed as disabled, it has taken a long while to accept it. I can't work and limited to what I can do. Some days I can't even move. Other days I'm ok. But there is no consistency. I can't plan. It's day to day.
But the disabled parking badge has made things so much easier. Not just physically, can open door fully, can swing out, near to trolley bay, near to entrance. It mentally has too. It avoids stress an anxiety. That is a big thing when you have to manage a disability/pain. On a bad day and no disabled spots and no standard near i will go home and come back another time. It's too much.
On a good day i have parked in a standard spot...it's sad but just to experiece feeling normal even for an hour..
This is my experience, i don't ever judge now. I learnt that the hard way.
Unfortunately your mother isn't exactly a qualifying candidate on paper. However if it is reducing her independance,causing her stress and limiting her going out I would try writing to the GP yourself and state what consultant said. I would also maybe tell your mother not to base the info she gives on a good day, even if it goes against her Irish mammy religion😉

Of course it's ok for you to continue posting @JollyJunee . I have no idea why @dianthus101 decided to make themselves the thread police.

If there is anything that you think any Irish MNetters might be able to help with, you could also post this on the "Craicnet" part of the boards which is for the Irish MNetters. They may have more hands-on experience of applying for the blue badge.

My suggestion about getting the form signed by a locum in your mum's surgery or getting a different GP to review it and her still stands.

Of course it's ok for you to continue posting @JollyJunee . I have no idea why @dianthus101 decided to make themselves the thread police.

I didn't suggest that OP didn't post. I just said that she should have said that her mother is in Ireland as the system is completely different..

It specifically says supporting letters from GPs can be ignored here in England

@JollyJunee missed it out on her original post but she has since said it multiple times. You can filter an OP’s posts if you don’t want to scroll through an entire thread.

No, it doesn’t. It says they’re not enough by themselves. Other evidence is required.

@JollyJunee missed it out on her original post but she has since said it multiple times. You can filter an OP’s posts if you don’t want to scroll through an entire thread.

But why would be people be looking through the posts to check? It's reasonable to assume she's in the UK considering she didn't state otherwise, most people on this site are in the UK and it's not even called the Blue Badge in any country I can think of outside the UK including the Republic of Ireland.

I know it as a blue badge (as I had to apply for one for my own mother) and we both live in the Republic of Ireland. I really don't know what your issue with the OP or me happens to be @dianthus101 because you're picking up on some of the smallest comments in our posts.

Just to clarify, I have no idea who the OP is or who her mother is (that in my mind is being very hard done by her GP) but I do know what the cards that we display in our vehicles with the wheelchair logo on them is called.

You posed the question "why would people be looking through the posts to check" referring to the multiple posts where the OP has mentioned that her mother isn't in the UK but in Ireland. Well, perhaps in general it would be a good thing for every one on MN to click on the "See All" option under the opening message of a thread just to see how much the thread has progressed before they decide to add their tuppence worth to it. Just a suggestion mind you.

My "issue" is with your rather patronising lecture about not assuming OP is in the UK. Given this is a UK site and the most posters are based in the UK, there is nothing wrong with assuming that if someone is asking about a procedure which varies from country to country, they are in the UK unless stated otherwise.
I do always check through the thread if it is a debate but this was really more an information/advice thread about getting a blue badge rather than something that would "progress" in a couple of days. Most posters were trying to give helpful advice rather than debate.

It WAS STATED. Within 20 mins of first posting and multiple times after.

If you assume all OP's are in the UK and then don't bother to read any of OP's posts saying they aren't, you might want to not lecture others.

And you should pay more attention when its for practical advice, not less!

I never understand this. ‘Go to a private doctor’. They’re not lying scoundrels nor do they hand out medication like sweeties