Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

halight

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.

Earlier this month, the National Audit Office criticised the DWP for setting low performance targets for Atos and failing to challenge the accuracy of data being submitted by the firm.

http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2012/08/29/benefits-protest-at-hull-branch-of-atos-over-paralympic-games-hypocrisy/

Raksha

If the cctv footage is only used for security, why has the HCP been observed watching the footage?

schrodie

Raksha wrote: »

If the cctv footage is only used for security, why has the HCP been observed watching the footage?

These so called "healthcare professionals" are told to observe the person whilst walking from the waiting room to the processing room and also whilst in the processing room, ergo there is no reason to think why they shouldn't spy on the person leaving the processing centre via a window or by watching any CCTV and asking the receptionist what they observed the person doing whilst waiting for their overbooked appointment in ill-equipped waiting rooms.

Don't forget Atos have targets to throw sick and disabled people off their benefits so it's up to them what techniques they employ to do that.

Brassedoff

Hmmm, if using the images for any other purpose than for security, loss prevention and crime. Is that not a breach of the data protection act? They are using the images for purposes other than what they are advertised for. You are also entitled to see any image on devices where your image has been captured. The CCTV industry have this data capture in hand.

Yet another one. If everyone demanded to see what was captured of their image and complained to the ads protection Commissioner, the system will grind to a halt.

People power!

ianrobbie

HI, we were told by letter this morning that my wife has lost her recent DLA tribunal.

She was diagnosed with Sheuermann's Syndrome recently and the Nerve Canal in her spine has narrowed because of this. She also has four bulging disks and a split Pubic Bone from her last pregnancy.

Because of this, she cannot walk unaided. She cannot sit for any more than five minutes, she cannot stand unaided and is in constant pain. She takes 7-8 pills every morning and night and tops up during the day.

She was "submitted" to an ATOS examination in the house last October, which we receive a copy of.
Truthfully, it was a bit of a joke.
He said he was at the house for an hour and 15 minutes. He was here for twenty at the most.
His physical examination consisted of two pokes to the abdomen and he sat and watched my wife struggle out of her chair and walk, with two crutches and great difficulty, six metres and ticked "Yes" in the "can walk" box.
Any other answers we gave to questions were like Movie Poster quotes, cherry-picked words which conveyed exactly the answers he needed to deny the claim.
The Tribunal focused on the fact that I worked and my wife was left in the house with our two-year old son and they kept asking "How do you do this...."

So, we lost the tribunal and have now been told that my wife cannot claim Jobseekers Allowance because she has no National Insurance stamps, but she must still Sign On at the "local" Job Centre (17 miles away) every fortnight.

My question (finally) is Where now? We relied on the financial help provided by the DLA and are struggling badly now. My wife's GP has said she shouldn't work. My wife's Physio has said she CAN'T work.
She has Neurosurgery appointments coming up for possible Spinal Fusion surgery.
Why doesn't the Tribunal pamel ask for GP's records and Physio records etc.? They completely ignored her recent MRI results because "They were recent" !?!

Can she re-apply for DLA?

Thanks for reading.

schrodie

Did you request a paper based appeal or did she go to the appeal herself? Paper based ones are on average much less successful than going to a face to face one.

You should write to the tribunal service and ask for a statement of reasons.

You can reapply for DLA based on her current care and mobility needs she has now.

As the "doctor" messed up you should consider making a formal complaint about the way they conducted the assesasment and the inconsistencies that arose in their report.

halight

ianrobbie wrote: »

HI, we were told by letter this morning that my wife has lost her recent DLA tribunal.

She was diagnosed with Sheuermann's Syndrome recently and the Nerve Canal in her spine has narrowed because of this. She also has four bulging disks and a split Pubic Bone from her last pregnancy.

Because of this, she cannot walk unaided. She cannot sit for any more than five minutes, she cannot stand unaided and is in constant pain. She takes 7-8 pills every morning and night and tops up during the day.

She was "submitted" to an ATOS examination in the house last October, which we receive a copy of.
Truthfully, it was a bit of a joke.
He said he was at the house for an hour and 15 minutes. He was here for twenty at the most.
His physical examination consisted of two pokes to the abdomen and he sat and watched my wife struggle out of her chair and walk, with two crutches and great difficulty, six metres and ticked "Yes" in the "can walk" box.
Any other answers we gave to questions were like Movie Poster quotes, cherry-picked words which conveyed exactly the answers he needed to deny the claim.
The Tribunal focused on the fact that I worked and my wife was left in the house with our two-year old son and they kept asking "How do you do this...."

So, we lost the tribunal and have now been told that my wife cannot claim Jobseekers Allowance because she has no National Insurance stamps, but she must still Sign On at the "local" Job Centre (17 miles away) every fortnight.

My question (finally) is Where now? We relied on the financial help provided by the DLA and are struggling badly now. My wife's GP has said she shouldn't work. My wife's Physio has said she CAN'T work.
She has Neurosurgery appointments coming up for possible Spinal Fusion surgery.
Why doesn't the Tribunal pamel ask for GP's records and Physio records etc.? They completely ignored her recent MRI results because "They were recent" !?!

Can she re-apply for DLA?

Thanks for reading.

Hi Mate,

I think the best thing for you to do is contact your local CAB. You need some expert advice about this.
You can also try and contacting you local MP.
You Also might have a local DAIL, They deal with things like disability rights and things like that.

Good luck mate. Let us know how you get on,

halight

schrodie wrote: »

Did you request a paper based appeal or did she go to the appeal herself? Paper based ones are on average much less successful than going to a face to face one.

You should write to the tribunal service and ask for a statement of reasons.

You can reapply for DLA based on her current care and mobility needs she has now.

As the "doctor" messed up you should consider making a formal complaint about the way they conducted the assesasment and the inconsistencies that arose in their report.

Some Good advice here mate.

ianrobbie

Thanks for the replies.
I think we'll try re-applying based on her current problems, before this PIP kicks in.

I'll let you know how it goes. We're going to write a letter of complaint to ATOS as well, although I don't think it'll do much good.

EDIT - She actually attended the Tribunal herself, where they kept her waiting in the most uncomfortable chairs for about an hour before she was allowed in. Tried looking but couldn't see a camera..... ;-)

Richie-from-the-Boro

schrodie wrote: »

These so called "healthcare professionals" are told to observe the person whilst walking from the waiting room to the processing room and also whilst in the processing room, ergo there is no reason to think why they shouldn't spy on the person leaving the processing centre via a window or by watching any CCTV and asking the receptionist what they observed the person doing whilst waiting for their overbooked appointment in ill-equipped waiting rooms.

Don't forget Atos have targets to throw sick and disabled people off their benefits so it's up to them what techniques they employ to do that.

Agreed - posted in #58 3 weeks ago

- the entrance is usually some distance from the entrance so you can be 'video[d]' on he way in
- the examiner walks behind you, the heavy fire door is usually closed so they can asses your gait and door manipulation
- the receptionist will take your letter, ask you to sign and date a declaration form, and if you want to claim expenses
- this is all part of your assessment / ability to follow instructions / read / write / think / socialise etc
- put a parking ticket on your car, then claim expenses, shows your ability to follow instruction and can perform duties
- non wheelchair users watch out for the clever almost impossible to sit in low chairs without arms, and very unusually low receptionists counter