Update on ESA medical from this morning

hoggle_2

Hi everyone,

OH had his ATOS medical this morning and it was a very surreal experience and not as expected.

He was interviewed by one nurse, (not 3 that I have read previously) and it was all very relaxed. The assessor could not have observed us arriving or walking into the office as his room had no window and he was in there when we arrived and there were no sneaky 'tests' such as having name called, walking certain distance etc. which I have read about previously. OH was not asked to pick anything up, bend or perform any 'tasks'. I got the impression that it was not just a case of ticking boxes but he was taking proper notes of what was being said.

The nurse said that he had read OH's file and that OH had really been through it. He asked a series of questions about condition and what meds OH is on, typing inbetween asking questions, and then after about 20 minutes closed the folder and asked if we had any questions. OH said he was expecting to describe day to day living etc but the assessor said that there's no point in continuing the interview due to OH's condition. We asked what happens now and he said that it is his recommendation that OH is unable to work, but did say that final decision is not his and then we left without having the full interview. :undecided

All in all it was a fairly pleasant experience and nothing like the horror stories that I have of from other people. I have read on here that the ATOS interviewers have been likend to Nazis but I can assure anyone who is facing a medical that from my experience as long as you are 100% honest it is nothing like as bad as some people have said.

I can't help thinking that on the whole we only seem to hear about the bad interviews and not ones that have gone well. I just wanted to put this post up to try and give a more balanced view based on my experience.

FTW

It's not the assessment itself that's the worry - I personally wasn't worried at either of mine, and wasn't treated badly. The problem, and the important part, is with the result that comes after the assessment (can vary between a few days and a few weeks).

The interviews are at around the 20 minute mark in any case. Also, the bit where you've stated he said 'the final decision is not his' - both of my assessors said that, and even at the time, I took that to mean - 'Don't blame me'.

That's just my experience - but it may not apply here. The main point of my telling it is that only one obstacle of the course is done - the next one's the all-important one.

If your OH has passed - and I sincerely hope he has - then congratulations to him and he's lucky to have passed as not that many do (especially if his affliction is mental rather than physical).

Mind you, if the clinic he went to wasn't the Sunderland one, I daresay the outcome's more likely to be a positive one.

lavidaloca

Unfortunately the end result is made by a DWP decision maker who could be a 17 year old clerk for all we know. So if you are expecting him to be put into the support group don't be surprised if he isn't.

We had a similar experience in not even getting past the waiting room as ATOS couldn't understand why my OH had even been called in for a medical given all the illnesses and associated conditions he has. They said he clearly can't work and sent us home so we were expecting him to be put in the support group but he was put into the WRAG. That was 18 months ago. I know a lot more about ESA/DLA now.

On his renewal in November last year a healthcare assistant assessed him on his ESA form only which, believe me, had copious extra pages of information with it. Again put into the WRAG. This time we are appealing the decision. It is clear from that decision that the healthcare assistant (who is a reg.SRN) hasn't a clue what she is talking about. So let battle commence!

hoggle_2

All of OH's problems are physical and the assessor did say that he would probably be called back in a years time so just waiting to see what the letter says when it does come through. I agree, the waiting is the worst part

melbi_uk

Hi hoggle

I'm so glad your assessment went well too, as mine did, but like the others have said, I'm not holding much hope out for passing the medical.

I sincerely hope your OH does.

It's kind of like starting off in the shallow water then gradually the water gets deeper.

Good luck

hoggle_2

Thank you Melbi. Good luck to you too!! Keeping fingers crossed for you.

cit_k

hoggle wrote: »

Hi everyone,

OH had his ATOS medical this morning and it was a very surreal experience and not as expected.

He was interviewed by one nurse, (not 3 that I have read previously)

Never heard of anyone ever being assessed by more than one assessor, it may have been written, but it would be a very unusual situation, and its certainly not what is normally described, or what normally happens. Odd you picked the most unusual circumstance to compare it to.

Where did you read this previously out of curiosity, would not mind reading the thread/article. Can you link to it please?

hoggle wrote: »

and it was all very relaxed.

Again, thats the norm, the assessors are trained to put people at ease, its not common to read (but does happen from time to time) of assessors being aggressive. The main complaint would I guess be the unwillingness to listen properly at the time, cutting answers short, and pressing for short answers (looking for a yes/no)

hoggle wrote: »

The assessor could not have observed us arriving or walking into the office as his room had no window and he was in there when we arrived

So when you arrived, you did not have to go through any lobbies, or up any stairs, or through any doors, and did not have to go to reception, to show your identity, confirm who you are, show ID etc?

hoggle wrote: »

and there were no sneaky 'tests' such as having name called, walking certain distance etc. which I have read about previously.

So you just walked in from outside, and straight away waltzed into the assessors office for the assessment straight away???

hoggle wrote: »

OH was not asked to pick anything up, bend or perform any 'tasks'. I got the impression that it was not just a case of ticking boxes but he was taking proper notes of what was being said.

They are trained to give that impression. Hopefully it happened that way, and they were being honest.....

hoggle wrote: »

The nurse said that he had read OH's file and that OH had really been through it.

Funny, the last one said he had read my file to, before proceeding to lie through his teeth over and over on the report. Good job it was officially recorded by ATOS so I can prove his many lies.

hoggle wrote: »

He asked a series of questions about condition and what meds OH is on

Often wondered why they do that, and why they ask you to bring your meds with you.

Did they ask to see the meds? Its odd they do it, seeing as if they had read your file, it would contain what meds you are on anyway, so it is a waste of everyones time asking again at the medical.

hoggle wrote: »

typing inbetween asking questions, and then after about 20 minutes closed the folder and asked if we had any questions.

Sounds like they used lima, the normal software, ask for a copy of the medical report -even if you do get ESA without problems, just so you can check its accuracy.

20 mins is about half the average time for a medical, so it could be possible it was terminated early to recommend support group status. But dont count chickens just yet.

hoggle wrote: »

OH said he was expecting to describe day to day living etc but the assessor said that there's no point in continuing the interview due to OH's condition.

As above, could be a good sign.

hoggle wrote: »

We asked what happens now and he said that it is his recommendation that OH is unable to work, but did say that final decision is not his and then we left without having the full interview. :undecided

He could have been honest with you (no atos assessor is ethical or honest) as its not just that the final decision is not his - even the content of the report that he puts his name to is not his - its generated by computer.

hoggle wrote: »

All in all it was a fairly pleasant experience and nothing like the horror stories that I have of from other people. I have read on here that the ATOS interviewers have been likend to Nazis but I can assure anyone who is facing a medical that from my experience as long as you are 100% honest it is nothing like as bad as some people have said.

You have not had the result yet, nor seen the content of the medical report - but already you have serious grounds for complaint, of the top of my head - from your own words -you have

Failure to Check ID - serious breach of protocol - complain to DWP/ATOS and GMCor NMWC.

Failure to follow procedure as per ESA guidance (ie observation etc) - complain again to DWP/ATOS/GMC or NMWC.


Failure to offer to show medical report - very serious breach of medical ethics - complain to GMC or NMWC.

and wait until you see the content of the medical report and you will surely find more problems EVEN if you get ESA.
Remember - it is in your interest to have any lies in the report corrected - you do not want false information on file, nor do you want to be pulled up on a fraud charge later if incorrect info is stored about you.

hoggle wrote: »

I can't help thinking that on the whole we only seem to hear about the bad interviews and not ones that have gone well. I just wanted to put this post up to try and give a more balanced view based on my experience.

Indeed, problems are more likely to be posted, perhaps you should come back after getting a copy of the medical report, and also after complaining to the assessors professional bodies about the breach of ethics (in not offering to show you the medical report before it goes to the decision maker) and breach of ESA guidance (observation etc etc) - and inform us how accurate the report was, and how well they responded to the complaints.

Good luck anyway, hopefully it will go well.
But dont forget to complain AND insist on any innacuracies in the report being corrected.

melbi_uk

oUCH! mine went wonderfully

the reception asked for my meds not the assessor

I went in a door and was there - was in there too quick for my liking

chairs were comfy with arms - not that I used the arms - ws way too anxious - hhhahhahahahha I even riocked which I dont think I normally do

I wasnt in sight when clled in as I was sat hid behind a corner (near the exit just in case)

my assessor held the door open

asked if I knew why I was there then said they would try and keep it short as possible as they could see I was struggling (I thought I was coping pretty well)

The assessor stopped typing and listened before typing again

when ever I mentioned anything they agreed saying they had read that - I can only assume they meant my medical records

one question i did get asked

'when you take an overdose is it because you want to die'

I'll not tell you what I replied

all in all I felt secure and listened to

BUT

I have read of so many people saying this and failing - I'm expecting to fail

I don't care to be honest

What matters to me is the ability of my psychiatrist to help me get better

luminated

Hoggle I for one would like to say thank you for taking the time to update us on your experience at your medical. And I hope you get the news you want.

It is important that we hear from those with positive medical assessment experiences as so there have been many conspiracy theories on the forum.

luminated

cit_k

Why on earth did you feel the need to have dissected the OP in so much detail. Its as if you are an investigative journalist working for Panorama or such.

?????????????

Mupette

Sorry to dampen the good mood, i thought i had a good medical, after one week ring up and ask to see your medical report.

Mine was a surprise, words were twisted.


I said i had friends come in each day to see me, do any little tasks that i need doing - turn out as, goes and see friends often.

I also said the my MS has been getting worse over the last 2 years, hense why i gave up work - turn into, MS has got bad over the last 2 days.

there are others, so now i have to go through it, and hand appeal in by Tuesday becaue they have put me in WFG, rather than leave me be in support.

Although they agree i am not fit for work now, aparently in 6 months i will be. (a miricle?) no one knows that i will be like in 6 months, not me, gp or consultant, but aparently atos knows.

Sp please request your medical after one week of your assessment, and read it thoughrouly