Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

isolation

Fridge3 wrote: »

If the claim goes in with no supporting info, no GP or other consultants details to refer to it will be assessed on what has been made available.

Claimants not making it easy for ATOS are ultimately not making it easy for themselves.

I agree with you. The rest in my opinion, is just laughable nonsense.

Most people comply with ATOS / DWP and are honest with them and as in my partners case, are treat in a disgusting fashion.

I would be grateful if you could take a look at her case and defend ATOS and /or the DWPs position.

Dee

FTW

Fridge3 wrote: »

If the claim goes in with no supporting info, no GP or other consultants details to refer to it will be assessed on what has been made available.

Not that Atoss generally bothers to check any of it out anyway.

Fridge3 wrote: »

Claimants not making it easy for ATOS are ultimately not making it easy for themselves.

The Tribunal route is best, because at least then, a fair and impartial hearing is much more likely.

Fridge3 wrote: »

You've only to see the mindset of some bitter folk intent on wasting ATOS and HCP's time to see that.

Atoss are a waste of space and a waste of money - so it's only fair and natural for Atoss to be treated likewise.

JS477

From your point of view, it provides an opportunity to observe the claimant outside the examination room......

Oh I wonder what the reason for this is!!!! No let me think!

Just one of the Observation suggestions from your handbook:-

Observed behaviour

Watch for hand, arm and head gestures. Note the ease (or otherwise) with which any coat or jacket is removed and replaced.

The claimant may hang up a coat or a jacket allowing observation of shoulder joint and arm action.

The claimant may lift their handbag or shopping bag several times during the interview process.

They may use a hand to open a door.

Where there is a lack of co-operation in carrying out active neck and shoulder movements then informal observations, coupled with examination of the upper limbs, may allow an estimate of the usual mobility of the shoulder girdle. This may well be confirmed by evidence from the typical day.

Atos_Healthcare_representative

JS477 wrote: »

As for Atos taking responsibility for the sub-standard reports they produce which lead to the taxpayer having to fork out £millions in appeals you have more chance of Nick Clegg growing a spine!!

JS477,

Sorry for the delay in responding to you. If the DWP identify that a report doesn’t meet agreed quality standards they will return it to Atos Healthcare for clarification or rework. This would normally happen before any final decision was made by DWP on a person's entitlement to benefit.

Atos_Healthcare_representative

Redman wrote: »

Another question,who carries out a pre-board check on a claimant, is it the DWP, or is it ATOS

Hi Redman

Pre-board checks are conducted by Atos Healthcare HCPs.

JS477

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

JS477,

Sorry for the delay in responding to you. If the DWP identify that a report doesn’t meet agreed quality standards they will return it to Atos Healthcare for clarification or rework. This would normally happen before any final decision was made by DWP on a person's entitlement to benefit.

It wasn't a question it was an observation!

However now that you've "seen" me can you possibility try this one then.

How many "Atos doctors" or "Healthcare professionals" are currently under investigation by the General Medical Council over allegations of improper conduct?

JS477

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi Redman

Pre-board checks are conducted by Atos Healthcare HCPs.

Shouldn't that be Sometimes Pre-board checks are conducted by Atos Healthcare HCPs.

Perhaps if they did then the cost to the taxpayer in £millions would be less in successful appeals due to the many many sub-standard WCAs that Atos carry out.

isolation

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

JS477,

Sorry for the delay in responding to you. If the DWP identify that a report doesn’t meet agreed quality standards they will return it to Atos Healthcare for clarification or rework. This would normally happen before any final decision was made by DWP on a person's entitlement to benefit.

With respect, that is evading the point made. Surely ATOS should not be making so many fundamental mistakes in the first place. Even if the DWP refer it back, this is extra time and money the DWP are spending. And lets face it, the DWP are usually as incompetent as ATOS and don't do this (only a tiny fraction of appeals have been sent back by the dwp for rework) leading to a massive amount of taxpayers money being wasted and clogging up the appeals system which leads to massive delays for claimants.

Whilst ATOS cannot take full responsibility for this, it has to take some, don't you think ?

For example if I were to arrest someone wrongly, and a case wrongly goes to court, it is not solely the responsibility of the CPS is it ? I have a great deal of responsibility in the matter.

In my partners case, ATOS has been partly responsible for wasting a massive amount of public money, but more than this, causing a massive amount of stress and having a devastating effect on the claimant

Dee

JS477

I don't think it takes the brain of Einstein to work out that it's written in Atos's contract that there won't be any financial penalties for sub-standard WCAs.

If there were then given how bad Atos are at carrying out WCAs then Atos may well end up owing the government money!!

Atos_Healthcare_representative

JS477 wrote: »

are there plans to purchase any more of these [delicate] recording devices or do Atos believe that <55 machines is enough to cover their 141'ish processing centres?

JS477, sorry for the delay in this answer as well. DWP make the decision on the most appropriate recording solution. The current solution and number of machines is reviewed with them on a regular basis and should there be a need to provide more machines this would be decided during that review. The mobile solution with 52 devices is currently workable.

JS477 wrote: »

How many requests per month do Atos receive from sick and disabled people to have their WCA recorded?

Although I'm not able to provide actual numbers within the remit on this forum, I can say that a very small proportion (less than 1%) of people having assessments ask for them to be audio recorded.