ATOS medical/home visit or transport advice please

oldestrocker

davidhwdn wrote: »

So i'm still not clear if i should or should not be called for a medical

The presumption is that if one of your conditions falls into cat4 then you should be called for a medical, irrespective of the other conditions.

uolypool

Mupette wrote: »

Another poster on these forums had hell with ATOS, they would not budge about a home visit.

She contaced her gp, benefits agency even her MP, still ATOS would not budge, she was getting so upset about it all, she cancelled the day before....... a few days later, ATOS called and said they would home visit in a day or so and did.

That would be me I think Mupette is talking about:D.I had a horrendous time with ATOS regarding me ESA medical.They refused a home medical so I got my gp to write a request letter ,still they refused:mad: saying they needed a detailed medical report which I simply couldn't afford so was told to appeal by the DWP and bulletpoint the reasons why I needed a home medical, did this and sent it off.Also contacted my MP and he too was told that I needed a detailed medical report.I have since found out from someone at Atos that it doesn't need to be a very detailed report and that was just the impression the wording gave.:cool:.I was making myself so ill through the stress of it all that I thought of just giving up.I phoned both Atos and Dwp and told them that I could not go to the medical centre as had previously been stated but they refused to cancel the appointment.The day before the medical appointment I think it was ATOS phoned me to say that they had a "doctor" in my area the next day and that they could visit me at home.The medical itself was a waste of time IMO as they just looked at my meds .Seriously thats all they did..Dont give up fighting for a home medical if you seriously need it .:)

deeplyblue

oldestrocker wrote: »

Hi,
Cat 2 is where your case would fall somewhere in between not having to be called for a medical to possibly might be called. They should review your case and make a considered and valued judgement call.
Cat3 is similar, in that you should have a medical but there is a small chance that it might not happen depending on your case
Cat4 is - you will have an appointment to attend the medical centre for a medical
Cat5 is the same as Cat2, except that your medical condition isn't quoted.

The simple question first, why do they say, "3. Tentatively invite to Medical Examination Centre." It seems an odd adverb to chose. Do they mean "Maybe" or "Probably"? Who decides - is it a tentative person? Weird.

The presumption is that if one of your conditions falls into cat4 then you should be called for a medical, irrespective of the other conditions.

Second question: can I check the logic on this one. If (I'm not in this condition - yet! - it's a thought experiment) IF I'm on renal dialysis (Cat 1), have multiple sclerosis (Cat 2) and Diabetes (Cat 4), then they call me in for a medical because the weakest issue (diabetes) puts all the others in doubt. This would seem to imply that if they don't think I qualify for ESA (Support) on the diabetes issue, then I wouldn't qualify on any other grounds either.

Please tell me I've got this wrong.

db

Mupette

I'm Cat 2

And they are not budging on the request for home visit.

I passed on the fax number to my gp and told her what they had told me to write on it.

Refused no reason given.

Thursday was supposed to be the day i go, according to their instructions it would take 1 hour and a half on public travel, although they have offered to pay for taxi.

Thursday was hell, i am only just getting over that, especially as they cancelled one hour before the appointment.

I know the information i gave them has not been read, as they admit they used the previous esa50 which would of put me in cat 3, but after dx last year i am listed in cat 2,

I haven't rang esa up yet to speak with a dm, haven't been feeling right, hopefully by tomorrow i'll be able to cope with a phone call.

mikebach

I have documented my experience on my web site. Go to any search engine and enter dwp esa atos.

The first step is to email Atos to ask who decided that a face to face assessment was necesary. Tell them that you want to check with the NMC or GMC that they are qualified to make this decision. Ask them for the clause in the Contract between the DWP and Atos that justifies their decision. If an assessment is justified by them and you are happy with their reasoning then ask them the name and qualifications of the individual who will carry out the assessment. Ask Atos that this individual should write to you explaining the medical reasons why you need a face to face assessment and why you do not need a home visit. Explain you will ask the NMC or GMC to review the reason for evidence of mal-practice. If you are happy with this, check the journey time is within 90 minutes. Insist there is no-one able to accompany you. Remember you should stress phrases like "intermittent", "consult my GP or Consultant", "refer to my medical history" if these are appropriate. Then follow the paper trail I have had to follow.

I believe my case shows the DWP to be dishonourable and dishonoured. Any organisation reflects the character of their leader. Darra Singh OBE is the leader responsible do copy him and your MP in all your email. I submitted my ESA form in June 2009. I was found work capable.

Never ever use the phone with the DWP or Atos. Ask them to email or write to you. You can publish here their replies. I expect to be dead by the summer solstice but the point is:-
The more insistence by individuals that the DWP and ATOS conform to the contract the better. Alternatively Atos costs will sky rocket if every individual took up the time and resources that I have. I have heard, anecdotal evidence, that people who quote the contract are far likely to receive the benefits. Remember you are a patient not a customer or client. Insist that they have a duty of care to you as a subject of the UK.

Oldernotwiser

What makes me think you have an axe to grind?

deeplyblue

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

What makes me think you have an axe to grind?

Mike doesn't have an axe to grind - he's already thrown the whole bloody toolshed at them.

If you go to his website - IIRC we're not allowed to include urls in postings here, but try putting "DWP ESA Medical Examinations" into Google and you can read more than you ever wanted to know about ATOS. Indeed you can read things you wanted not to be the case.

Mike has a terminal brain tumour. Since his prognosis was not for less than 6 months, ATOS put him through the usual mill and decided that he was capable of work-related activity. Mike objected to the usual mill and has fought it with great tenacity, and like a number of other warriors, has managed to gain something for everybody else.

db

LadyMorticia

I count myself as one of the lucky ones, to be honest.

A couple of years ago I was virtually housebound (severe agoraphobia and anxiety, coupled with Borderline Personality). I only left the house about once a week and even then I was extremely panicky and hyperventilated.

I was called to an ATOS medical. I got extremely upset and panicky about the journey which caused great distress. I booked an appointment with my doctor who said that she'd write a letter on my behalf to request a home visit.

About a week or so later, I received a letter from ATOS saying that I now didn't need a medical and I had received over 10pts on Mental Health grounds.

I would have been happy (for lack of a better word) with a home visit so I have no idea what my doctor put in that letter that made them decide to call off the medical all together...

deeplyblue

LadyMorticia wrote: »

I count myself as one of the lucky ones, to be honest.

...

I would have been happy (for lack of a better word) with a home visit so I have no idea what my doctor put in that letter that made them decide to call off the medical all together...

Nice to know that there are lucky ones. It's always encouraging to hear of people who are treated as the system says they should be treated.

If there's anyone else out there who's been given what they think they deserve, let us know. It helps. It really helps.

SohoAnthem

I got refused a home visit, even after my GP had faxed them through a letter. My examination is on Wednesday and I'm getting worked up about it. Will probably ring up to cancel, does anyone know what will happen afterwards?

Claim is for Agoraphobia/Severe Anxiety. Test center is quite a way away, would have to get public transport which is just a huge no-no.