Atos medical on Monday 19th May - please help!

geriann

thanks to everyone that read & replied.:beer:

to be honest i really don't want an ATOS home visit. although it would save me having to leave my house, the thought of them coming into my "safe place" really bothers me.:undecided

i haven't seen my GP in a while because i get my med's on repeat perscriptions & in the last year i've been hiding myself indoors even more.
however i'm sure he'll help me, because he did a letter for me in early Autumn 2012. i'd been put in WRAG & my GP's letter basically said i need to go in the Support Group, because being in WRAG made me a self-harm & suicide risk. i was surprised how quick they replied to say i'd been put in the Support Group!

Morglin
it's good to know that the medical is just part of the routine & not because they suddenly doubt me.
i was hoping after i was put into the Support Group [because of a letter from my GP] they'd leave me alone for a while. i certainly didn't expect them to want a medical any time soon!
it's reassuring to know i'll still get my ESA payments while they're deciding my fate. i assume that means i'll continue getting the Support Group rate i currently get?

Indie Kid
do you know what form ATOS sent to your GP?
they usual have a code on them to identify which form they are.
did you get to see what your GP had put on the ATOS form?

Anchoress
i did the same thing as you! i gave a letter [more a list really] of all my illnesses/problems. i'm sure it helped him because it's a long list!

Crazy_Larry
yeah i've heard alot of terrible stories about Atos. it's the way they try to catch you out & word things that worries me.
the problem is a don't know what a normal day is for me!
all my mental & physical conditions can vary & be different everyday.
not to mention the fact that most of the physical things i can do, but that varies depending on how much pain i'm in on that day. DWP & ATOS don't seem to consider pain in thier questions.:mad:

Breast Cancer Survivor
firstly i just wanted to say i'm so glad to hear you're a cancer survivor.:T
well this medical is def' bad for my mental health. thanks for the idea.
my GP sent them a letter in early Autumn 2012 saying i need to be in the Support Group or i'd be a self-harm/suicide risk. soon after they put my in the Support Group. so i'm surprised they're assessing me again after such a short time!

Indie_Kid

I didn't see what was written on the form. I only know because I asked the receptionist if I need an appointment to get a sick note. I was told yes and that DWP / ATOS have sent them a form to fill in. I think it's an ESA113?

I guess I was lucky - about 5 months previously, I was under 4 specialists to get diagnoses.

After 20 odd weeks of waiting, I received a letter telling me I don't need to be seen and have been put into the support group.

geriann

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I think it's an ESA113?

i look the form number up & it would be the ESA113.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa113-interactive-for-use-by-healthcare-practitioners

geriann

here's my update...

i phoned ATOS at 10.15am on Monday 19th May...4 hours 20min's before my medical. i got through to a surprising understanding/nice man...not what i expected but i guess they're using to people calling them in a panicked state.
in my anxious state at 1st i said could i delay/cancel my appointment...he didn't ask why.
he asked me when i wanted to book my app' for...suddenly i remembered to ask for my app' to be audio recorded.
i was briefly put on hold while he asked someone about getting it audio recorded. when he came back he said yes they can audio record, but that means i can't book an appointment now. he said there was a delay in audio recorded appointments, so ATOS will send me an appointment letter [with an date/time] when they can book me in.
he also asked me is i prefer a certain time of day...i said afternoons...he said he'll note that down so ATOS book an afternoon appointment.
Yay! that's what i wanted. just to delay until i could see my GP & the added bonus of an afternoon appointment.
so i was thinking the appointment would be at least a few weeks away, by what he said probably more.:T

however on the 22nd of May...only 3 days after i phoned...i got an ATOS appointment letter.:shocked:
my app' had been booked at 11.40am on Thursday 5th June.
only 14 days notice [2 days extra notice than my 1st app' letter] & not an afternoon appointment!
i know it's late morning...almost lunchtime/afternoon...but not what i requested.:( gutted.
should i contact them about the fact it's not an afternoon appointment?

the more critical worry is that i can't get an appointment with my GP until at least the 10th of June!:eek:
now i'm freaking out because i wont be able to see him before my medical.
i really wanted to talk to him about the ATOS stuff & get "evidence" or/& get my GP to contact ATOS to say my inpending medical is bringing my mental health down [aka putting me at risk] in the hope ATOS will agree i don't need to have a medical.
i know that may be a long shot, but even if i still have to have a medical at least i'd be able to get "evidence" from my GP before the medical.
last time i got my GP to write a letter [for DWP to move me from WRAG to SG] i had to wait until he'd done the letter, pick it up from the Surgery & post it myself.
if he does it that way again i don't know how long after my GP app' i should book the ATOS medical. at least 1-2 weeks i suppose.:huh:
someone mentioned my GP could fax ATOS the letter...i guess they could email it to them instead.
that would be quicker than snail mail, but i still don't know how fast my GP [or whoever he gets to type it] will take to do it. so i guess i'd still have to leave my ATOS medical until at least 1 week after my GP app'.:undecided
anyone know the ATOS fax or/& email addy my GP could send it to?
should i ask ATOS if they will re-schedule my app' for after i have my GP app' & after my GP contacts ATOS?

i read in the WCA AL1C [07/13] Face-to-Face Assessment leaflet [that came with the app' letter] in the "when & how to contact ATOS Healthcare" section...
"you can rearrange your appointment, but please note that this can only be done once to comply with the DWP process."
last time it was re-booked because i wanted an audio recording...this time it's so i can see my GP before i see them...& hopefully to change it to an afternoon appointment while i'm at it.
so will ATOS let me delay/re-book my medical again?

it would be easier for me if i could contact ATOS to re-book my medical [if they still insist i must have it] when i've seen my GP & my GP has contacted ATOS & got my "evidence".
i'm guessing if it is ok to re-book my medical ATOS wont be that understanding & flexible?? :think:
i didn't mean this to be a long post, but as usual it turns out that way.:o
if you've read my whole post i'm very grateful.
any answers/advice via this thead or via Private Message are always appreciated.

Indie_Kid

Can you get your GP to phone you instead of having a face to face appointment with them?

Morglin

ATOS can refuse to change an appointment twice.

However, if they do agree, then make sure they email you confirmation.

There has been no end of problems with people being told things, by ATOS, over the phone, getting nothing in writing, and then finding out their benefit has been stopped because the claimant 'didn't turn up for the appointment".

However, if they refuse to change it again, unless your GP can get involved, you really should go.

Lin

geriann

could someone change the title of this thread to...
Atos medical on Tuesday 11th November - please help!

i'm so sorry i haven't updated what's been happening. i hope everyone is understanding.

so here's my update...

on Wednesday 4th June i phoned Atos to ask for a home visit. they said it was too late because the audio equipment was already booked for my app' the next day.

on Thursday 5th June i waited 26 min's for my taxi...they kept saying it was on it's way to me.
i decided i had no choice but to phone the medical centre & tell them i was running late.
i got through to a nice lady who said they'd been trying to phone me for days to say my app' was cancelled because the audio recorder was broken.
obviously i was relieved, but shocked. especially because when i phoned Atos the day before nothng was said about that. i was also confused how the lady had the correct landline number for me, but i'd not got thier calls! i know my landline was working as normal.
i mentioned to the lady i had wanted a home visit & she said i should phone Natalie on 0115 9758339 to arrange that.
has anyone else been given that number?

after that i expected to get a letter from Atos telling me my new appointment within days or weeks, but i heard nothing until i got a letter [dated 21st] from Atos on the 23rd of October...my 33rd birthday!
i waited 19 weeks 5 days to hear something & i get the dreaded letter on my birthday...typical.
that was a great present, but i suppose i'm lucky my app' was delayed so long.

so 1st i need to ask for a home visit...if possible. it would be nice if a word from my GP meant i didn't need a medical at all, but i'm not that lucky.
then i need to ask for it to be audio recorded...that's assuming they don't already know that.
i know both of these could delay my app', but i'm fine with that.

i noticed in the WCA AL1C 04/14 About Your Face-To-Face Assessment leaflet [that came with the letter] it says...
"please contact Medical Services if you can only travel by taxi. you may be able to claim taxi fares if you have a letter from a medical proffessional who is treating you explaining why your medical condition means that you can not travel by public transport.
send the letter to Medical Services & they will contact you to tell you if they can pay your taxi fares. please do not travel by taxi without agreement."
from that i'm guessing they'll pay for both the to & from taxi fare?
so if i can't get a home visit i've got to get a letter from my GP about taking a taxi...why do Atos make everything so complex!
i'm guessing you just ask the taxi driver for a receipt on the day?
the taxi home wont be pre-booked because i don't know when the medical will end. obviously the fare will be the same on the way back, so i'm guessing that's enough for Atos?
i'm also guessing if they wont pay for my taxi i could still take a taxi, but just not get it paid for?

i hope someone on here has answers & advice to share.
all comments or private messages about this stuff are gratefully received.

geriann

on Saturday 8th i phoned ATOS [0800 2888777] to ask for a home visit & was put on hold...the usual waiting in a que to speak to someone.
after about 12 min's of waiting i decided to phone the same number from my mobile to see if i got through to anyone, but i got the machine saying they're closed.
i then realised they close at 5pm on Saturdays...not at 8pm like they do on weekdays. :doh:
so i decided to phone 0115 9758339...the number Park Medical Centre had given me on 5th June to ask for a home visit...i knew it was another ATOS number that might close at 5pm, but it was worth a try. however i was suprised to just get a "number not in service" message! i tried a 2nd time, just to make sure i'd typed the right number, but still the same message. that's strange. i'm sure i wrote down the number i was given correctly...or did i. :huh:
so then i thought i might as well try phoning 0115 9758347 [ATOS Nottingham] because that's my nearest ATOS number, but i just got a tone; which i think was a busy tone.
then i phoned 020 7830 4931...another ATOS number i found online...but that also said number not recognised.
as a last resort i phoned 020 7830 4444...another ATOS number that's on thier website. i got straight through to a man, but it turns out that number is just a switchboard. he could only put me through to someone if i gave him a name. the only name i had was Natalie, but i had no surname & i already knew the number i had must be wrong, so i gave up called ATOS for the day.
so i decided to phone 01733 297631...which is Park Medical Centre where i would have the ATOS medical. i only phoned to see if i'd wrote down the 0115 9758339 [Natalie - ATOS home visit] wrong or if they had a number they could give me. i just got a busy tone...i didn't bother to keep trying.

so...

on Tuesday 11th i phoned ATOS [0800 2888777] to ask for a home visit.
the man i spoke to said i needed a letter [or fax] from my dr to say i needed a home visit.
so he said my appointment would be re-scheduled, so i'd have time to see my GP. i'd get the a letter to tell me my new appointment in a few days.
if Atos decided i couldn't have a home visit, i'd need to get a letter [or fax] from my dr to say i needed to get a taxi to the appointment...that's the only way i'd be able to get the taxi fare refunded.
he also said when i've got the ATOS "home visit or not decision" i would then have to contact ATOS to ask for it to be audio recorded.
he said my GP could send his letter to the Nottingham address on my ATOS appointment letter or to the fax number he gave me...0115 9758386.
then i phoned the medical centre & told them what would have been todays appointment was cancelled because i've asked for a home visit. i just phoned to make sure the message got to them, so i wouldn't be put down as a no show.
the lady i spoke to took my name & NI number to update thier system.

on the 13th of November i got the ATOS letter [dated 11th] to say my medical was now at 2pm on Friday 5th December.

then on the 14th i got another ATOS letter [dated 12th] to say "your appointment at 2pm on Friday 5th December has been rescheduled to: 1pm on Saturday 29th November".
so 1 day later ATOS changed thier mind & brought my medical forward by 6 days...for unknown reasons. i wonder if i should bother asking why the appointment was changed?

geriann

i assume i can't do it myself, so could someone please change the title of this thread to...
Atos medical on Saturday 29th November - please help!

i have a few queries...

i need to get my GP to send a letter/fax saying i need a home visit...is there a template letter somewhere for that?

if ATOS decide they wont give me a home visit & i do have to go to the Medical Centre, then i'll have to take a taxi.
ATOS say i need to get my GP to send them a letter/fax stating i can't travel on public transport [therefore need a taxi], so ATOS can refund my taxi fare.
which makes me wonder, should i get my GP to mention the taxi & home visit stuff in the same letter/fax?
or would it be better to get him to send the home visit letter 1st...the what they say...& if they say i can't have a home visit...then get him to send them a letter about a taxi.
what do you think?
if you think i should tell my GP to write 1 letter with the home visit & taxi stuff in it, is there a template letter for that somewhere?

i also wondered what happens when ATOS gets the letter/fax from my GP. when they've decided do ATOS just send you a letter about it?
does it take long for them to make a decision?
i wondered because i obviously was hoping for a decision before my 29th November app', so i know if i'll have to go to that app' or if they'll make a new letter app'.

any answers/thoughts via this thead or via Private Message are always appreciated.