Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

schrodie

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Mordred12

They must remain objective and impartial when constructing their reports, and their advice must be justified with reference to the evidence gathered.

So what's the point of the LiMA software that Atos developed to carry out the WCA and produce the report that is electronically sent to the DM!! Admittedly the so called "healthcare professional" can add their own comments. However given that they get paid per WCA that takes up too much time and usually the so called "healthcare professional" just submits the computer's version!!

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Regarding your second query, we don’t know who Fridge3 is but they do not represent the official views of Atos Healthcare. You’ll only ever hear from us using the ‘Atos Healthcare Rep’ username.

Yeah!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

schrodie

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

They must remain objective and impartial when constructing their reports, and their advice must be justified with reference to the evidence gathered. Regular random quality audit reviews all aspects of the reports produced, including consistency between the evidence present and the advice offered.

More lies :mad::mad::mad:

How can these so called HCPs be impartial when they have been given targets to throw sick and disabled people off their benefits!

SandraScarlett

isolation wrote: »

Hi,
If it was me, I would ask her to have it rearranged to a time when she can have someone with her. Under no circumstances would I let an ATOS HCP be alone with a vulnerable person.
Also I would request that either they record the visit or allow her to do so.

She may be lucky and have a competent one or she may have one as bad as the one who 'assessed' my partner.

Hope that it goes well for her,
Dee
http://dwpnegligence.wordpress.com

Thanks for your info. I don't know what an ATOS HCP is, she's told me that the name on the letter is Doctor (Surname). Her husband will be there to open the door etc, and he's the one who provides her care, but has a speech impediment, (stammer), so doesn't like talking.

But what does the visit entail? Is it a case of consolidating the info on the form, which was accurate, or something else please?

xx

Oh I've just twigged it's a Health Care Professional.

halight

http://sphotos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/600515_4921859237121_322932483_n.jpg

Muttleythefrog

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Thanks for your info. I don't know what an ATOS HCP is, she's told me that the name on the letter is Doctor (Surname). Her husband will be there to open the door etc, and he's the one who provides her care, but has a speech impediment, (stammer), so doesn't like talking.

But what does the visit entail? Is it a case of consolidating the info on the form, which was accurate, or something else please?

xx

Oh I've just twigged it's a Health Care Professional.

Sandra I take it this is a medical assessment for DLA rather than the WCA of ESA which this thread is about. Would probably be helpful if you are there (or her husband) to give additional information if you can on her difficulties in relation to the DLA criteria. Most DLA claims don't involve a face to face medical.. but in this case they've obviously decided it necessary for factfinding and ATOS HC are their (DWP's) medical advisors in that regard like for ESA (a benefit for which a different but much more commonly requested medical assessment is possible). It is important she describes fully her problems of mobility and any care needs she has...what her husband has to do for her... not a time for 'putting a brave face on' but being brutally honest about day to day problems and how they are overcome with support or not overcome at all. Perhaps if she has a bullet point list of the problems she has relevant to the DLA criteira and ensures during the assessment that each is covered... application form (ideally last completed) would be good guide on this probably.

damo24

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

They must remain objective and impartial when constructing their reports, and their advice must be justified with reference to the evidence gathered. Regular random quality audit reviews all aspects of the reports produced, including consistency between the evidence present and the advice offered.

In that case can you please answer the question I originally asked at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58600685&postcount=148 and then again at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58804139&postcount=372, http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58957771&postcount=634 and at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=59057755&postcount=794.

To make it easy for you (so you don't have to look back to this question) I asked why the person completing the ESA85 does not have to complete the justification section with any meaningful or evidenced observation?

I know of people who have had this section completely missed out and in my case the form is below (with personal details redacted):

Despite suffering from complex mental health problems for more than 4 years (at the time of the assessment) the HCP states that he feels that I will be able to return to work within 3 months and his ONLY justification for this is that (in his opinion) my "level of disability would be expected to improve". I should point out that nearly 9 months on from the WCA my GP, CPN and Consultant Psychiatrist feel that I an still not well enough to return to work and in fact my condition has deteriorated due to the stress of the appeals process.

Surely this advice is not "justified with reference to the evidence gathered". And would fail any "Regular random quality audit review" and does not provide any "consistency between the evidence present and the advice offered".

I appreciate that you cannot discuss individual cases but can you please explain how an HCP (who was a Doctor) can get away with such a brief justification without providing evidence to back up his prognosis?

melbury

damo24 wrote: »

In that case can you please answer the question I originally asked at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58600685&postcount=148 and then again at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58804139&postcount=372, http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=58957771&postcount=634 and at http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=59057755&postcount=794.

To make it easy for you (so you don't have to look back to this question) I asked why the person completing the ESA85 does not have to complete the justification section with any meaningful or evidenced observation?

I know of people who have had this section completely missed out and in my case the form is below (with personal details redacted):

Despite suffering from complex mental health problems for more than 4 years (at the time of the assessment) the HCP states that he feels that I will be able to return to work within 3 months and his ONLY justification for this is that (in his opinion) my "level of disability would be expected to improve". I should point out that nearly 9 months on from the WCA my GP, CPN and Consultant Psychiatrist feel that I an still not well enough to return to work and in fact my condition has deteriorated due to the stress of the appeals process.

Surely this advice is not "justified with reference to the evidence gathered". And would fail any "Regular random quality audit review" and does not provide any "consistency between the evidence present and the advice offered".

I appreciate that you cannot discuss individual cases but can you please explain how an HCP (who was a Doctor) can get away with such a brief justification without providing evidence to back up his prognosis?

That is amazing, this is exactly the prognosis that has been put on each of my OH's ATOS assessments, word for word:eek: Makes you wonder if the forms are actually pre-printed with that on them!

It is of course complete and utter tosh because my OH has consultants letters saying that his condition will never improve. It is just madness and something should be done about these so called HCP's.:mad:

mazza111

Fridge3 wrote: »

Not lies, just the facts. Like the stats posted earlier.

No it's definitely lies that atos tells... And I have the ESA85 to prove it.

I have no problems with them observing me in the waiting room, or anywhere else. But to say something like... the applicant makes no rocking movements which would be seen if she was suffering from depression/anxiety....... Hello! Not everyone who suffers from depression or anxiety rocks back and forth. The rocking movements seem to be another favourite of ATOS.

JS477

Fridge3 wrote: »

The point of the assessment is to assess.

Under normal circumstances and given that professional people were carrying them out then yes. But we haven't got professional people carrying out these assessments out we've got Atos and they're getting so many wrong that it ends up costing the taxpayer £millions.

So yes the assessment is to assess but lets have decent quailfied trained medical professional assessors carrying them out unlike the shower we have now!

WADH

SandraScarlett

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

Sandra I take it this is a medical assessment for DLA rather than the WCA of ESA which this thread is about. Would probably be helpful if you are there (or her husband) to give additional information if you can on her difficulties in relation to the DLA criteria. Most DLA claims don't involve a face to face medical.. but in this case they've obviously decided it necessary for factfinding and ATOS HC are their (DWP's) medical advisors in that regard like for ESA (a benefit for which a different but much more commonly requested medical assessment is possible). It is important she describes fully her problems of mobility and any care needs she has...what her husband has to do for her... not a time for 'putting a brave face on' but being brutally honest about day to day problems and how they are overcome with support or not overcome at all. Perhaps if she has a bullet point list of the problems she has relevant to the DLA criteira and ensures during the assessment that each is covered... application form (ideally last completed) would be good guide on this probably.

Thanks so much for that. I've told her that she must give the intimate details about her toilet needs and what her hubby has to do, and she's OK with that, and she's read through the copy of the form.

But what does this mean - the problems she has relevant to the DLA criteria. Is there a web site that lists the criteria please? Many thanks.

xx