Cystic Fibrosis Trust responds to recommendations from Timms Review

Alice Billin, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: 

"We’re pleased to see that the emerging recommendations from the Timms Review recognise that PIP must better account for fluctuating conditions and reduce unnecessary reassessments for people with lifelong conditions like cystic fibrosis (CF). This is what people affected by CF have been saying for many years.

The PIP system is stressful, inconsistent and deeply upsetting, damaging both physical and mental health. Assessments often reduce a complex condition, that changes, down to a snapshot of someone’s health, failing to reflect the reality of living with CF.

So the test will be whether and how the Government implements these new recommendations to create a simpler, fairer system. Assessors must have a far better understanding of complex conditions like CF, so people don't have to repeatedly prove the impact of a lifelong condition.”

These are not the final recommendations. The Government now needs to speak to more disabled people and the people who support them to make sure the system is simpler and fairer.