Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

damo24

Simon9999 wrote: »

Thanks for this, Did you supply any evidence from your phyciatrist or GP when you first sent back your esa50?

My doctor has offered to write a supporting letter for £45 but has said that on most occasions the letters are ignored and it ends up at a tribunal.

I have care plans from a consultant so will send them.

I didn't send any supporting evidence in as I was under the mistake belief that this would be requested if required. My psychiatrist provided me with further evidence for the Tribunal but he is now offering reports for his clients to submit with the initial paperwork.

From what I have heard I would not bother with a report from your GP as you are under a psychiatrist but if you can get one from the psychiatrist I would submit that along with your care plans.

The reason for not bothering with a GP report is that the GP does not have a speciality with regards to mental health issues whereas your psychiatrist is not only a specialist he is also aware of the specifics of your case and (s)he sees you on a regular basis to discuss JUST your condition and nothing else.

GwylimT

So all carrying out the actual assessments are either nurses, doctors or physiotherapists who are both registered and cleared? Care to explain why the assessor who carried out the last rounds of assessments in our centre was a 20 year old woman?

Can you also tell me why a man who gives false information to DLA applications (name making him untraceable) and who was found guilty of attempting to sexually assault my partner is still carrying out assessments?

Atos_Healthcare_representative

GwylimT wrote: »

So all carrying out the actual assessments are either nurses, doctors or physiotherapists who are both registered and cleared? Care to explain why the assessor who carried out the last rounds of assessments in our centre was a 20 year old woman?

Can you also tell me why a man who gives false information to DLA applications (name making him untraceable) and who was found guilty of attempting to sexually assault my partner is still carrying out assessments?

Hi GwylimT

I’m not sure how the misunderstanding has come about regarding the age of the HCP who assessed you, but due to the training and experience requirements for HCPs we don’t have any who are as young as 20.

Regarding your second point, if you could contact us directly we can clarify with you the circumstances you describe and look into them.

IHD

Could anyone tell me if any of the people that carry out the assessments are specialist consultants familiar with that persons conditions? Or are they just a jack of all trades? and know a vague bit about everything?

sicknotethefirst

IHD wrote: »

Could anyone tell me if any of the people that carry out the assessments are specialist consultants familiar with that persons conditions? Or are they just a jack of all trades? and know a vague bit about everything?

Almost right except this bit 'jack of all trades and know a vague bit about everything' They know nothing about any medical conditions they are only data processors so I guess most of them would have knowledge of 'Information technology' They are most defiantly not!! 'specialist consultants familiar with that persons conditions' however they are professional liars.

Prinzessilein

The person who interviewed me WAS a doctor. ...I checked their credentials...however, they blatantly lied about their training

They claimed they had 'many years' training and experience in mental health. This was clearly not the case.

They misspelled two of my conditions, and had to ask what exactly one of them was.

When making a list of my (many) prescription medications, they queried my specialist prescribing them. They stated that they didn't think I should be on them. (I will take the advice of my specialist who has seen me on multiple occasions over a period of time and has specialised in this particular condition, before I accept the word of someone who met me 5 minutes ago and can't even spell the condition correctly!)

The lack of medical knowledge was just the tip of the incompetence iceberg.

I am lucky, I had my carer/mother with me throughout. Otherwise the result would have been different. - I was thankfully placed in the Support Group, and it is only my fear that my name will be recorded and my complaint held against me in future, that has held me back from making an official complaint.....I feel sorry for all the other claimants who endure the pseudo-medical with this person.

Atos_Healthcare_representative

IHD wrote: »

Could anyone tell me if any of the people that carry out the assessments are specialist consultants familiar with that persons conditions? Or are they just a jack of all trades? and know a vague bit about everything?

Hi IHD

All our doctors, nurses and physiotherapists have at least three years post-qualification experience and are registered with their Medical Body. They come from a range of backgrounds including general practice, hospitals, NHS Direct, etc. Before carrying out assessments, they receive further comprehensive specialist training in disability assessment. They must then be approved by the DWP Chief Medical Adviser on behalf of the Secretary of State.

The assessment is designed to look at how you are affected by your illness or disability, or combinations of illnesses and disabilities. It is a functional assessment against criteria set out by the government. There is often, relatively speaking, less of a focus on talking through the details of your medical symptoms, treatments and test results than you will be used to with other professionals. This is because the purpose of the assessment is very different.

Atos_Healthcare_representative

Prinzessilein wrote: »

The person who interviewed me WAS a doctor. ...I checked their credentials...however, they blatantly lied about their training

They claimed they had 'many years' training and experience in mental health. This was clearly not the case.

They misspelled two of my conditions, and had to ask what exactly one of them was.

When making a list of my (many) prescription medications, they queried my specialist prescribing them. They stated that they didn't think I should be on them. (I will take the advice of my specialist who has seen me on multiple occasions over a period of time and has specialised in this particular condition, before I accept the word of someone who met me 5 minutes ago and can't even spell the condition correctly!)

The lack of medical knowledge was just the tip of the incompetence iceberg.

I am lucky, I had my carer/mother with me throughout. Otherwise the result would have been different. - I was thankfully placed in the Support Group, and it is only my fear that my name will be recorded and my complaint held against me in future, that has held me back from making an official complaint.....I feel sorry for all the other claimants who endure the pseudo-medical with this person.

Hi Prinzessilein

If you had problems with your assessment you should contact us so that we can investigate. I can assure you that you would not be affected in future by any complaint you make to Atos Healthcare

sicknotethefirst

As I said 'professional liars'

isolation

Atos_Healthcare_representative wrote: »

Hi Prinzessilein

If you had problems with your assessment you should contact us so that we can investigate. I can assure you that you would not be affected in future by any complaint you make to Atos Healthcare

I would concur with the advice given by the ATOS rep - if you feel you have been treat unfairly by the person assessing you, you should make a first tier complaint to ATOS (remember, there are 3 tiers to the procedure and the first 2 are typically not much use in my experience, ATOS have a target to ensure that 95% of assessments remain fit for purpose at this stage, so don't be put off by the responses and the sooner the complaint process starts, the better). It may also be worth forwarding the complaint to the DWP and your MP.


Also:-

Atos_Healthcare_representative wrote: »

The assessment is designed to look at how you are affected by your illness or disability, or combinations of illnesses and disabilities. It is a functional assessment against criteria set out by the government. There is often, relatively speaking, less of a focus on talking through the details of your medical symptoms, treatments and test results than you will be used to with other professionals. This is because the purpose of the assessment is very different.

It may be "designed to look at how you are affected" but this is not to say it actually will do and from our experience (3 assessments, all declared not fit for purpose by ATOS) "There is often, relatively speaking, less of a focus on" much semblance of the truth in the reports, and often not a fair reflection of what actually took place in the assessment itself.


Best wishes.
Dee
http://dwpnegligence.wordpress.com