A man who has suffered 14 heart attacks and four failed kidney transplants has been told he is fit enough to look for a job.

Paul Mickleburgh, 53, from Aberdeen, who has also fought cancer and pneumonia, will spend the rest of his life on dialysis, which he receives three days a week.

He was told by the Department of Work and Pensions that he is expected to take part in work groups and attend interviews in a bid to get a new job or he will face losing the new Employment and Support Allowance to be paid instead of incapacity benefit.

A letter from the DWP said: “You must take part in work-focused interviews with a personal adviser to continue to receive the allowance in full.”

Mr Mickleburgh said: “Why would you apply for a job that you are not going to be able to do? It seems to be petty that they are going to make you apply for jobs but don’t expect you to take the job, even if you are offered it.

“It’s not right. You apply for a job to go and work, you don’t apply for a job to then turn it down.

“I would like to work and I would love to have a new transplant and a fit heart. Nobody wants to be ill like this. I worried so much about this I didn’t sleep for five or six days. I had my last heart attack a few weeks ago and I think it was brought on by the stress this has caused.”

Mr Mickleburgh added: “A person’s medical condition should be taken into account. I wouldn’t be able to do an eight hour job five days a week. There’s no realistic prospect of an employer taking on somebody with my medical condition.

“I don’t think they realistically want me to find a job, they just want to get me onto the work activity list for statistics. Most reasonable people will think I’m genuinely unwell.

“The new rules were meant to get people who allegedly had ‘sore backs’ back into work - rather than people who were on kidney machines or had heart problems. There doesn’t seem to be a fair assessment being made.”

The DWP refused to comment on Mr Mickleburgh’s case but said: “The assessment doesn’t focus on a particular diagnosis but on an individual’s abilities and whether that person could undertake suitable work.”

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DENVER--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services that is committed to improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced important emergency preparedness information and resources for dialysis patients during the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, which officially starts June 1.

“Unfortunately we can’t be there if a weather-related emergency happens while a patient is at home”

On average, more than six hurricanes occur during a typical Atlantic hurricane season. The somewhat unpredictable nature of hurricanes can put dialysis patients, who require treatments at least three times per week, at a heightened risk by causing clinic and road closures.

In order to prepare for the unexpected, DaVita® recommends dialysis patients create an emergency kit that includes:

• Emergency phone numbers for their doctors and dialysis center, as well as contact information for a nearby dialysis center
• At least three days’ worth of medications, as well as a list of the dosage amounts
• If diabetic, a week’s worth of supplies (syringes, insulin, alcohol wipes, glucose monitoring strips, etc.)
• Access to clean water, food, a can opener, first aid supplies, and a battery-operated flashlight and radio

“Unfortunately we can’t be there if a weather-related emergency happens while a patient is at home,” said Tom Bradsell, facility administrator at DaVita and head of DaVita’s emergency response team, DaVERT. “That’s why, as caregivers, we take important measures to help ensure our patients have the tools they need to be educated and prepared should a hurricane-related emergency occur.”

Visit DaVita.com to see the full three-day emergency diet and additional emergency preparedness information, including:

• Emergency preparedness for people with kidney disease
• Preparing for the unexpected with home dialysis
• Diabetes Emergency Plan

For additional questions, or for assistance during a weather-related event, call DaVita Guest Services at 1-800-400-8331.

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita

DaVita Inc., a Fortune 500® company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita strives to improve patients’ quality of life by innovating clinical care, and by offering integrated treatment plans, personalized care teams and convenient health-management services. As of March 31, 2012, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,841 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 145,000 patients. The company also operated 15 outpatient dialysis centers located in three countries outside the United States. DaVita supports numerous programs dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change in communities around the world. The company’s leadership development initiatives and social responsibility efforts have been recognized by Fortune, Modern Healthcare, Newsweek and WorldBlu. For more information, please visit www.davita.com.

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