Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

Lady_Andrea · 10 January 2013 at 5:49PM

To the Atos Healthcare company representative

We all know not to be true. Atos is fully responsible for the decision making based on their flawed LiMA software. FoI request confirms LiMA software might NOT be 100% up-to-date with the latest medical researches.
Further FoI request to DWP also confirms Atos do NOT take into consideration GP/Consultants medical reports as they are NOT trained to assess disability like Atos assessors are.

Auld_N_Knackered · 10 January 2013 at 5:58PM

:mad:So you are saying that Atos collect the info and a faceless 3rd party makes the decisions. If that is correct who are these people and what qualifications do they have. By the way I have seen the report from the Assessor and it does not tell the truth re evidence presented to her. She has in fact made decisions that the next lot take onboard and score accordingly.

clouty · 10 January 2013 at 6:00PM

The way the HCP fills in the LiMA form impacts directly on the information sent to the decision maker, and the ATOS LiMA programme scores the claimants. 15 points gathered from all of the questions should be a WRAG decision, 15 points scored on a single descriptor should be a Support Group decision - so how the ATOS rep can say they have no say in decisionmaking is beyond me. It's a very convenient fudge - the DWP let ATOS take all the flak, and ATOS respond by saying (wrongly in my view) that

Atos Healthcare has no involvement in the decision making or appeals process.

I agree ATOS has no input into appeals after the assessment process, but the ATOS assessment report (the ESA85) (which is not nothing, after all) is part of the appeal papers bundle sent for the consideration of the First Tier Tribunal.

Atos_Healthcare_representative · 10 January 2013 at 6:07PM

Paulanna wrote: »

Hi.
I have been diagnosed with Pedendal Neuralgia and since being diagnosed i have done a lot of research into it and found amazingly that a lot of the medical profession from GPs to Consultants have not heard of this complaint. Can you tell me whether you have a "number" that you can relate to this debilitating complaint?
I am awaiting my tribunal to be continued to be paid as there is no way I am fit to go onto job seekers allowance.
I appreciate your reply.
Thank you
Paulanna

Atos Healthcare isn’t involved in the decision making or appeals process. However, the focus of a Work Capability Assessment is to assess how you’re affected by your medical condition and the tribunal will want to know how your neuralgia is impacting upon your day to day life. While the actual diagnosis is of less importance than its impact, any information you send to them will be taken into account.

Atos_Healthcare_representative · 10 January 2013 at 6:10PM

volintier wrote: »

• Completing the Work Capability Assessment questionnaire

Like many claimants, I was unable to obtain any help from an outside agency to assist in completing this form (ESA50). To ask the DWP to assist would be akin to asking a hangman to tie the noose a little tighter - there is no independence. Consequently being seriously ill with both physical and mental conditions I managed to complete just a few pages.

Why is the form so lengthy? Do ATOS not realise that having multiple conditions, the interactions between all of them make it almost impossible to give a full picture of the inability to do any work.

I would suggest that anyone that is able to (a) complete the form giving a comprehensive report into their problems and (b) seek & obtain sufficient evidence to support the descriptors, should really be actually working!

• Appointments/Assessments

At my first assessment (Oct 2009) I was declared unfit and placed in the Support Group for 3 years. At my review in Oct 2012 I was unable to see the assessor whilst seated (VDU in front of him) unable to understand him (heavy Asian accent) and when I did after countless 'pardons' I wasn't given sufficient time to explain in any great detail, my replies. Why is the assessment carried out in this way?

The consequence of this was that I gained '0' points and started to claim JSA which lasted all of 7 weeks before I was told that I could no longer claim due to being continually ill. ESA was no longer an option, neither is Income Support so I now live on charity until I can put in a new ESA claim after the 8th May 2013 (the 6 month rule).

• Health Care Professionals and their qualifications

I have no comment to make on qualifications but I do on the quality of investigatory techniques. Having spent many years working for the government in a investigatory capacity, I am well aware of how to ask questions that will illicit replies. I am quite able to see through the 'bog' of information and identify the matters that are important. I felt that as though I should be helping the assessor on what questions to ask and how to ask them!

What training are your assessors given into professional investigatory & questioning techniques?

If I was to score the latest assessor (nurse) out of 10, he would gain -7! He was a complete amateur. I was sitting there waiting and expecting the questions that should have been asked expecting them to be asked in the best way possible to gather the evidence. May I suggest that all assessors are trained fully in all of the aspects of investigatory and questioning techniques.

I’m sorry that Atos Healthcare can’t provide advice to you about the completion of the questionnaire - this is a Department for Work and Pensions form issued in relation to your claim. However, if you need further advice on how to complete it, you can get in touch with Jobcentre Plus, or a local independent welfare service. The Jobcentre Plus office that is dealing with your benefit claim will have a copy of the questionnaire and can go through any questions with you over the phone and will support you in completing the form. Their telephone number is on the letters you’ve received from them about your benefit claim. If you don’t know their telephone number, you can find out by calling 0800 055 6688. If you have speech or hearing difficulties you can contact Jobcentre Plus using a text phone on 0800 023 4888

Our health care professionals should allow a person sufficient time to provide information about their condition and how it is affecting them. I’m sorry if this was not your experience. They will use a variety of questioning techniques to obtain this information as succinctly as possible.

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, all doctors, nurses and physiotherapists 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.

Atos_Healthcare_representative · 10 January 2013 at 6:13PM

harry7075 wrote: »

Good morning! I've had two ATOS "face to face assessments" in recent months. One for DLA,under the right payment programme, and another for War Pension Disability Benefit.

On both occasions I found the Doctors polite courteous and above all kind. They were never short or abrupt with me!

Thanks for your positive feedback. We carry out weekly surveys and find around 90% of those replying are satisfied with our service and over 90% rate the service provided by our health care professionals as good or very good, in terms of their professionalism.

Lady_Andrea · 10 January 2013 at 6:14PM

To Atos Healthcare company representative

Are Atos assessors on commission?

Atos_Healthcare_representative · 10 January 2013 at 6:15PM

photomad1975 wrote: »

Why aren't ATOS / DWP getting medical evidence from the doctors and other health care specialist the claimants are seeing. Why are you exspecting claimants to do this? It is costing claiment a lot of money to do this, where as is free to the DWP/ATOS

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.

Atos_Healthcare_representative · 10 January 2013 at 6:16PM

marzipanknickers wrote: »

Do atos plan on employing people who are actually qualified to assess people, ie mental health professionals for mental health claiments,

The training of our health care professionals focuses on both physical and mental health conditions. Following a report by Professor Harrington, 60 mental function champions have been trained by Atos Healthcare to provided specific advice on mental health conditions to our health care professionals.

clouty · 10 January 2013 at 6:17PM

Does ATOS suffer any penalty for assessments that find a person fit for work, which are then overturned on appeal?

Does ATOS have a target or targets for the percentage of claimants to be found eligible for the support group?

Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

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