Dear Ian,
This is what I think:
I have always assumed that ‘non-medical’ in DSA land refers to the status
of the person (or organisation) that provides the service? An osteopath is
a Non Medical Healthcare Professional by definition (see under ‘clinical
imaging’ on this link:
http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/integrated_health/referral_info.php )
If someone is paying for their own osteopathic treatment in a private
clinic, then they can self-refer. If a third party is paying, then some
kind of referral letter is usually required – so I can see why the GP
letter was requested.
However, the GP (ie the medical person) is not proposing to supply the
service and they have not offered to do a GP referral. The GP has confirmed
the student’s self-assessment of the situation – that he needs a strategy
to help alleviate pain and stiffness caused by the demands of the study
environment. There is a solution nearby, it costs money, but there is
funding available to cover additional costs that arise from the student
having to adapt to what he experiences as a disabling environment.
If the student agreed, I would also get some form of communication with the
disability services in the HEI about alternative funding sources AND the
possibility of setting up some sort of interim or trail period with the
osteopath funded or part-funded with the student through the ALF? If you
could get the massage trialled (and assuming it was effective) then that’s
strong evidence for it per se. I would go for NMH through the DSA and tell
the student to contact me if it got turned down so I could have a look
(with my centre manager) at the reasons for refusal with view to appeal. I
would probably search for some kind of comparator to use in the
justification – what springs to mind are some forms of mentoring because
there the argument for DSA funded NMH might go something like “the student
finds the university T&L environment stressful/distressing , they would
find it beneficial to work with a mentor on aspects of time and task
management (etc..depends on student..)…the service costs money, but there
is funding available to cover additional costs that arise from the student
having to adapt to what he experiences as a disabling environment….”. I
might also draw attention to the ‘capacity to benefit from the course’ part
of the rationale for DSA as well as the additional costs one.
Amanda Kent
DSA needs assessor
On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 21:21:53 -0000, Ian F. <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Hi, I wonder what people think of this.
>A student with physical difficulties (long-term persistent but difficult to
>diagnose problems resulting from various accidents) has requested if DSA
can
>be used to pay for massage sessions while on campus. (There's a private
>osteopath near the uni campus). The student argues that he wouldn't require
>this assistance if he was at home or at work, but having to sit in lectures
>for long periods is exacerbating the pain. He says having some massage
>might allow him to remain on campus for a full day. I suggested it might
>help to provide some medical evidence that confirms the need for massage
>when on campus, which the student's GP has helpfully provided.
>
>Has anyone come across DSA funding been used for this type of support
>before? Even if it can be supported through DSA, I'm assuming massage would
>be classed as 'medical' assistance, so the non-medical helpers allowance
>can't be used?
>
>If DSA can't be used, has anyone identified an alternative method of
>providing this support, e.g. via the sports centre or health centre? (the
>student does not have specialist personal care requirements that might mean
>a 'care assistant' could be provided on campus to provide this).
>
>Ian Francis.
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