Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

halight

SEE wrote: »

Just ask under the FOIA

Yeah I did think about that. I'm surprised one of the charity or MP's that are not happy with the way that Atos has treated people have not already done it and leaked it to the press.

Still they have a chance to be open here. And "Engage" with us.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Atos Healthcare assesses disability on behalf of the government. This highly controversial issue has been discussed many times on these forums and in the press.

This is a trial thread to allow Atos to provide guidance about the process. We have agreed, but it can only post specifically within this thread.

Subjects it can answer questions on include:

• Clarifications about the Work Capability Assessment questionnaire
• Appointments/Assessments
• Travel and travel expenses to the assessment
• Home visits
• Health Care Professionals and their qualifications (but not specific individuals)

It won't be able to answer questions on:

• The policy for decisions itself (DWP is responsible for this, not Atos)
• The appeals process
• The DWP staff who made the decision
• Questions that would need your personal details
• It can obviously only answer questions on the parts of the ESA Work Capability Assessment it carries out.

Why we’re allowing this:

As the issue is controversial and often causes anger amongst some affected, we think it even more important to facilitate the ability for people to contact Atos directly and get answers in a public space. Many people have demanded answers on this forum – this should help them get them – we will be monitoring the trial to see if it does.

Of course this is not an endorsement of the firm or government policy by MSE or Martin.

Before we allowed this to happen we asked and received assurances that during this (initial trial) period they would provide sufficient resources to answer people’s questions.

Please don’t debate the firm or policy in this thread

We have the forum Discussion Time board which allows discussion of that. This thread is a question and answer thread.

To ask a question

Just click reply below to ask your question and the Atos representative will aim to answer your question within 2 working days (ie Mon-Fri). More complicated questions could take longer so keeping posts simple, with one question per post, should help get a quicker response.

You’ll recognise the Atos Healthcare representative as the username will be displayed in bold purple and have a special representative signature.

As always, abusive posts will be removed – please report any inappropriate posts to [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL] and don’t feed the trolls.

Nowhere in your opening post has it been mentioned that MSE or Martin endorse this company ATOS.In fact you say the exact opposite.In that case,did you make it clear to the ATOS PR Rep,that ATOS must NOT link this thread or indeed MSE in any part of their website or blog.I hope you have made this clear to ATOS,and informed them to remove the links to MSE,and the MSE name from their website,as it looks like you ARE endorsing the company.

sicknotethefirst

Originally Posted by sicknotethefirst
Q1 If I understand you correctly what your saying is that all HCP's have enough qualifications to understand all illnesses and the their effects? regardless to how complicated this maybe? In your words you stated" many have considerably more experience and additional qualifications." I take it that this doesn't mean 'ALL'

You also stated...
Q2
Are you saying that if they do not have enough information they 'WILL' seek more information from the claimants GP?

You have only answered part of this question and in doing that you haven't answered exactly what I asked.

You said

Atos Healthcare will attempt to obtain information from a GP in cases where a healthcare professional feels advice could be provided to the Department for Work and Pensions without the need for a face to face assessment. This is particularly the case for those with the most disabling conditions which may potentially place them in the Support Group for Employment and Support Allowance.

Can you answer both of my question in more detail please

Atos_Healthcare_representative

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

You have only answered part of this question and in doing that you haven't answered exactly what I asked.

You said
Can you answer both of my question in more detail please

Hi sicknotethefirst

As I have said, all HCPs meet the qualification and experience requirements to enable them to conduct work capability assessments. I’m afraid that you would need to speak to the DWP if you want to discuss the basis for the standards that they have set.

Regarding your second question, if the HCP feels, based on the information they have available, that with more evidence advice could be provided to the DWP without the need for a face to face assessment they will obtain information from a GP.

SEE

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv wrote: »

Dear ATOS PR rep

We on here,and thousands of others, don't think you should mention MSE or put a link to this thread/site on your website or blog page.Will you please remove it.

To MSE

Do you really want to be associated with this company?You are supposed to be moneysaving site,and you seem to be in league with a company who has robbed thousands and thousands of pounds from genuine disabled people.I thought MSE for one would have stuck up for the little guy.Seems we were wrong.

I thought I'd seen it all until a letter appeared from ATOS to a completely disabled person who lives in a vegetative state. Don't ATOS have to hand the diagnoses of these people, or do they just make money by picking on anyone? They will be unhooking people from life support machines next.

sicknotethefirst

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi sicknotethefirst

Regarding your second question, if the HCP feels, based on the information they have available, that with more evidence advice could be provided to the DWP without the need for a face to face assessment they will obtain information from a GP.

So why didn't they in my case? I have now made this an official complaint with your Boss who is now apparently investigating the issue.

I also asked you earlier ....

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

Question for the Atos rep...

I sent in my ESA50 with all my med reports etc I was then contacted by Atos with an appointment, I spoke to my Gp about it and he wrote another report in which he said in the last para Given the circumstances I am somewhat surprised that he is being called for a face to face medical assessment and wonder if the necessary facts have been made available to the medical team.


In view of this I then asked Atos for the reason for a face to face assessment and they replied with what the nurse said who looked at my EAS50 and any other available evidence “I am unable to advise on the evidence held. The case will need to be referred for assessment”

I have checked the details on the NMC site and found that this Nurse Mrs ********* didn't have any additional qualifications shown? so I rang the NMC to ask what does this mean? the gentleman at NMC told me that "She is just a Nurse without any other qualification" so I said so you mean a bog standard nurse? to which he replied "Well I wouldn't have put it like that but yes the nurse in question hasn't undergone any other training and holds no other qualifications except basic nursing"

So my question is... How can a bog standard nurse make these kind of decisions? when it's obvious from the evidence supplied she simply couldn't understand it!!

Atos_Healthcare_representative

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

So my question is... How can a bog standard nurse make these kind of decisions? when it's obvious from the evidence supplied she simply couldn't understand it!!

Hi sicknotethefirst

I responded to your question here.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Anyone else think its ignorant of the ATOS rep when they sign in,make a post,then sign out,all in the space of about 2 minutes.Its like they walk out of the room after each of their comments.

sicknotethefirst

All of our HCPs receive comprehensive specialist training in disability assessment and are approved by the DWP Chief Medical Adviser on behalf of the Secretary of State. The training for nurses is accredited by the University of Derby. We can’t comment on specific cases on this thread but please contact us if you would like to discuss this further.

If that's the only answer I am going to get then I think it's a very poor one!!!!


I sent in my ESA50 with all my med reports etc I was then contacted by Atos with an appointment, I spoke to my Gp about it and he wrote another report in which he said in the last para Given the circumstances I am somewhat surprised that he is being called for a face to face medical assessment and wonder if the necessary facts have been made available to the medical team.


In view of this I then asked Atos for the reason for a face to face assessment and they replied with what the nurse said who looked at my EAS50 and any other available evidence “I am unable to advise on the evidence held. The case will need to be referred for assessment”

Just to give you a short insight here is a little which the Hcp could look at...

Atos as you are fully aware I cannot leave home until approximately 2.30-3.00 pm because of the medication I take (Furosemide) which you obviously know nothing about? So here is a little information about the drug. Amiloride/Furosemide (Am-il-or-ride hi-droh-clor-ride/Few-roh-sem-mide) is a medicine which is used in nephrosis, treatment of cardiac failure, ascites and situations where removing water from the body is necessary. The onset of action after oral administration is within one hour, and the diuresis lasts about 6-8 hours.

Some of the information provided..........

Ischaemic heart disease


My first heart attack was 1999 followed by others in 2002, I had a quadruple bypass 20 January 2005 my left ventricle now has poor function and subsequent considerable heart failure. In 2005 I developed Diabetes which I currently have under control. I take various medication inc Furusomide and Ramerpril both designed to make me shed fluid which requires me to have to pee regularly for 6-8 hours. I can not omit this medication as it will compromise my underlying medical conditions. 2010 a further heart attack and 2011 another heart attack.


January 2012 I had to have a stent added to one of my leg arteries because of poor blood flow to my right foot



In November 2012 I had an MRI cardiac perfusion study which has now led to me having to have an Angiogram with the hope that I can have an Angioplasty in March 2013, I was told by my consultant Dr **** that a further bypass wasn't an option because the risk was too high with my heart being in a poor condition.


February 2013 I had a CT scan to my head because of possible poor blood flow which causes me some memory loss on a daily basis. The results I am waiting for.


I also have carpal tunnel disease in both hands and have to wear mits to help relieve the pain.


I would be very grateful if you could let me know why the nurse in question felt that she didn't have enough information and that a face to face assessment is required.

Can you tell me why anyone with any medical knowledge would make a statement like this when all the information was in front of them and easy to understand including reports from my consultant, my Gp, along with medical history.

FTW

SEE wrote: »

I thought I'd seen it all until a letter appeared from ATOS to a completely disabled person who lives in a vegetative state.

It is Atoss.

SEE wrote: »

Don't ATOS have to hand the diagnoses of these people, or do they just make money by picking on anyone?

Yes, the latter. They were already despised in the Occupational Health field, even before they got the DWP contract.

SEE wrote: »

They will be unhooking people from life support machines next.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least.