text:
Open Letter on Atos 'Healthcare' to the BMJ and RCN
27 September 2011
Dr Michael ChamberlainChairman, BMJ (British Medical Journal) Group Board
Andrea Spyropoulos, President,Royal College of Nursing
Dear Dr Chamberlain and Andrea Spyropoulos,
Re: Atos Healthcare and parent company Atos Origin
As sick and disabled people, carers and other concerned people, including professionals, we are writing to you to urge the Royal College of Nursing and BMJ Group to immediately end your relationship with Atos, including stopping any advertising of Atos jobs or Atos the company on your websites, and not having Atos at the RCN Bulletin Jobs Fair 13-14 September, or the BMJ recruitment fair 30 September to 1 October 2011 in London.
As you know, Atos currently has a £100m a year contract with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to carry out examinations for disability benefits.
We are outraged that Atos is profiting from denying those of us who are sick or disabled, the benefits we need to survive and maintain our level of health. In May, at the protest outside Atos headquarters, a number of people spoke about our experiences of the examination, being denied benefit and having to appeal to get it back. One woman testified that her brother, who had severe depression, committed suicide after being cut off. See:
The media have exposed more of the dire consequences of Atos' decisions. In February, the Daily Mirror highlighted the case of a Derbyshire man with a heart condition, found fit for work, who had to go through tribunal to appeal, then was awarded Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but died of a heart attack the day before his next Atos exam was due.
A Channel 4 News report on 27 July 2011 acknowledged what thousands have been saying: it interviewed the heartbroken partner of a critically ill man whom Atos denied his entitlement on grounds that he was 'fit for work' – he died less than three months later. How many more people have died following such cruel and callous treatment? The coverage was prompted by a Parliamentary report from the Work and Pensions Committee of MPs, in which they criticised Atos. Atos the powerful multinational has taken vindictive action against disabled people and carers' websites where it is criticised, getting sites closed down which isolated people rely on for support.
In August, the Guardian reported that 12 Atos doctors are under investigation by the General Medical Council for improper conduct. The article referred to numerous previous cases and investigations by other bodies.
A nurse in Scotland was so shocked at Atos's behaviour that she blew the whistle on them. She said that people with serious lung diseases were found fit for work as long as they could sit in front of a computer, and that parents who attend with their children are automatically found fit for work. And Atos is investigating staff, one a nurse, who used their Facebook pages to insult people as "parasitic wankers" and "down and outs".
According to DWP figures, only 6% of those who have been assessed are placed in the Support Group of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which exempts them from the work conditions now attached to benefit. (This 6% includes claimants whom the DWP has already exempted from the Atos examination because their condition is so serious.) http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_27072010.pdf
The Royal College of Psychiatrists and many others have strongly criticised the devastating effect the Atos exam and cuts have had on patients. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/31/incapacity-benefit-cuts-mental-health
GP Margaret McCartney, writing in the BMJ, has questioned the ethics of doctors performing assessments without access to patients' medical records, and the lack of specialist knowledge of physiotherapists and general nurses employed by Atos. (BMJ 2011; 342:d599. Full article attached.)
Since 1995, when medical assessments for incapacity benefit were privatised and taken out of public services, standards have steadily declined. But Atos has brought this to a new low. While none of the work tests deserve to be called a "medical" as they have no basis in patient welfare, since Atos started carrying out the ESA tests in 2008, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people with severe illness and disability being assessed as fit for work and denied benefits.
This has been clear for some time. In 2009, 'Who's Cheating Who?', a BBC Scotland documentary, highlighted the plight of June Mitchell who applied for sickness benefit. When examined by Atos, she complained of breathlessness and feeling tired. She was scored zero points and found fit for work. She went back to her GP, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and died shortly afterwards.
Doctors' and nurses' ethics are being corrupted by Atos' offers of higher salaries and daytime reduced work hours. Some doctors have tried to argue that their duty to patients does not apply when assessing benefit claimants on behalf of Atos. But the General Medical Council has upheld that doctors are always bound by this duty whether seeing patients, employees (when assessing occupational health), benefit and insurance claimants, athletes, among others (see attached response from the Standards & Fitness to Practise Directorate).
As doctors and nurses are enticed into privatisation, and cases of criminal negligence and even murder in hospitals and care homes hit the headlines, patients and their loved ones are increasingly speaking out against the indifference and cruelty they face at the hands of those paid to protect them.
Claimants rightly fear that most Atos assessors are uncaring and prejudiced – they work to targets which have nothing to do with patients' individual health needs or with the realities of the job market which sick and disabled people are being thrown into. The stress of the Atos examinations has hastened deaths and caused a number of people to commit suicide. For many others, it is exacerbating their already fragile health condition.
Atos kills. Medical professionals who lend it credibility give it a licence to kill. We call on the BMJ Group and RCN to end all association with Atos, and on doctors and nurses to defend patients and uphold our welfare.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Benefit Claimants Fightback: email@example.com
Black Triangle: email@example.com
Defend Welfare network
Disabled People Against Cuts: email@example.com
WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities: firstname.lastname@example.com
And: (full list of signatories at 27 September 2011):
Niki Adams, Legal Action for Women
Peter Ambrose, Visiting Professor in Housing and Health, University of Brighton
Cristel Amiss, Black Women's Rape Action Project
Dr Frank Arnold MB ChB
Arts Against Cuts
Kate Atherton, UK Uncut
Professor Peter Beresford OBE, Brunel University and Chair, Shaping Our Lives
Sue Bott, Director, National Centre for Independent Living
Brighton & Hove TUC Unemployed Workers Centre
Brighton Disabled People Against Cuts
Linda Burnip, Debbie Jolly, Eleanor Lisney, Disabled People Against Cuts (UK)
Sara Callaway, Women of Colour in the Global Women's Strike
Julia Cameron, Islington Disabled People Against Cuts
Dr Stephen M Carty, GP, Edinburgh
Roderick Cobley, Chair, London Autistic Rights Movement (personal capacity)
Dr Jillian Creasy, GP, Green Party councillor for Central ward, Sheffield
Liz Crow, Roaring Girl Productions
Dr Paul A. Darke, Outside Centre
Rhian Davies, Chief Executive, Disability Wales (and Rhyan Berrigan, Tania Bhutto – member, Maggie Hayes – intern, Paul Swann – policy officer, Independent Living)
Nyami Enyako, Rehabilitation Officer with Visually Impaired People, Sensory Services, London Borough of Lambeth
Kirsten Forkert, University and College Union (personal capacity)
Mat Fraser, actor and writer
Glasgow Coalition of Resistance
Claire Glasman, WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities)
Anat Greenstein, Research Institute of Health and Social Change, Manchester Metropolitan University
Helmut Heib, National Union of Teachers (personal capacity)
Dr Marion Hersh, University of Glasgow
Sarah Hitchings, Lewes Stop The Cuts
Cat Hobbs, Oxford Save Our Services
Islington Poverty Action Group
Michael Kalmanovitz, Payday men's network
Michael Lavalette, National Convenor, Social Work Action Network
Jill Leigh, BA, CQSW., Dip Counselling.
Lesbian Bi Trans Queer in the Global Women's Strike
Lewisham Anti-Cuts Alliance
Phil Lockwood, Information Co-ordinator & Webmaster, Black Triangle
London Coalition Against Poverty
Nina López, Global Women's Strike
Adam Lotun, Disability Risk Management & Reasonable Adjustments, Consultant, Workplace Disability Adjustments
Marie Lynam, Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group
Nushra Mansuri, British Association of Social Workers
John McArdle, Black Triangle Anti-Defamation Campaign In Defence of Disability Rights
Gillian McDonald, RMN, NHS Lothian
John McDonnell MP
Denise McKenna, Mental Health Resistance Network
Ronan McNern, Queer Resistance
Cari Mitchell, English Collective of Prostitutes
Dan Morton, Social Work Action Network ( London )
Stella Mpaka, All African Women's Group
Rev Paul Nicolson, Chair, Zacchaeus 2000 Trust
Notts Save Our Services
Notts Uncut
Nurses Against Atos
Andrew Osborne, Cambridgeshire Against the Cuts
Anna Owens, secretary, PCS Revenue & Customs branch committee
Redhill Coalition Against Cuts
Ian Sandeman, DLA Help Group
Bill Scott, Manager, Inclusion Scotland (personal capacity)
Dave Sherry, Secretary, UNITE Scottish Housing Branch
Dr Ron Singer, president, Medical Practitioners' Union, the doctors' section of UNITE
Dave Skull, South East London Mad Pride
Paul Smith, Victims of Atos Corruption & Register of Shame 2
Kim Sparrow, Single Mothers' Self-Defence
Phil Stevens, Director, Wales Council for the Blind (representing over 63 separate visual impairment groups providing support and assistance to visually impaired people – including list below**)
Russell Stronach, co-Chair, Autistic Rights Movement UK
Peter Tatchell, Peter Tatchell Foundation
The Cuts Won't Work
Pip Tindall, Brighton Benefits Campaign
Johnny Void, Benefit Claimants Fightback
Welfare Action Hackney
Vin West, Secretary, Arfon Access Group
Alan Wheatley, Green Party TU Group Disability Spokesperson
Alison Wilde, Bangor University
Rick Wilson, Community Lives Consortium, Wales (personal capacity)
Dr Sarah Woodin, University of Leeds (personal capacity)
Dr Felicity de Zulueta, Emeritus Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy at the SLaM NHS Foundation Trust and Hon. Senior Lecturer in Traumatic Studies at KCL
**Amman Valley Blind Society, Ammanford Blind Society, Bridgevis, Brynamman Blind Society, Carmarthen Area Blind Society, Carmarthenshire County Blind Society, Ceredigion Association for the Blind, Cwmamman Blind Society, In-Sight, Llandeilo Blind Society, Llandovery & District Blind Association, Llandybie Blind Society, Llanelli Blind Society, LOOK, Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind, Monmouth Visually Impaired Club, Mynydd Mawr Blind Society, North Wales Welsh Cassette Service, Partially Sighted Society, Pembrokeshire Blind Society, Radnorshire Association for the Blind, Rhondda Blind Society, Rhuddlan Borough Talking Newspaper, South Wales Talking Magazine Association, Vision Support, Visual Impairment Breconshire, Visual Impairment West Glamorgan, Visually Impaired Merthyr Tydfil, Visually Impaired Children Taking Action
Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of the British Medical Association firstname.lastname@example.com
Dr Brian Keighley, BMJ Deputy Chairman, Scottish Council email@example.com
Wales firstname.lastname@example.com
Northern Ireland firstname.lastname@example.com
BMJ press dept: email@example.com
Margaret McCartney GP email@example.com
Jane O'Brien, Assistant Director of Standards, General Medical Council firstname.lastname@example.com
Response from the General Medical Council
· Jane O'Brien, Assistant Director, Standards & Fitness to Practise Directorate
General Medical Council, 350 Euston Road , London , NW1 3JN
"Edward Cooper is mistaken that the principle of making the care of your patients your first concern does not apply to doctors when they are assessing benefits claimants on behalf of ATOS. Our guidance is for all doctors and in the guidance we use the term 'patient' to refer to anyone whom doctors test, treat or assess in their professional capacity as a doctor. This includes amongst others, employees, benefits and insurance claimants, and athletes.
"The first duty of all doctors is 'to make the care of your patient your first concern'. But that is not the only duty doctors must observe. Being open and honest and acting with integrity is also an essential part of medical professionalism. Good Medical Practice provides guidance, not a set of rules, so doctors must use their judgement to apply the duties and principles defined in our guidance to the various situations they face as a doctor, whether or not they routinely see patients in a therapeutic or any other role.
Dishonesty in writing reports cannot be justified by reference to the first duty of doctors. Further advice on disclosing information for employment, insurance and similar purposes can be found here: http://www.gmc- uk.org/Confidentiality_disclosing_info_insurance_2009.pdf_27493823.pdf"
Competing interests: None declared
Published 7 March 2011
BMJ 2011; 342:d599 doi: 10.1136/bmj.d599 (Published 2 February 2011)
Cite this as: BMJ 2011; 342:d599
· Feature
· Medical Work Assessments
Well enough to work?
1. Margaret McCartney, general practitioner Glasgow
1. email@example.com
Increasing numbers of people previously deemed medically unfit to work are being taken off state benefits after assessments by a doctor. Margaret McCartney investigates the ethics and fairness of the system
A medical degree can open all sorts of doors. One is the brown and tinted glass entrance of the Atos Healthcare offices in Glasgow , where I checked that my name was on the list held by the security guard at the desk. This recruitment evening was for doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists interested in working with this French information technology firm, which is subcontracted to the Department for Work and Pensions to provide work capability assessments.
In November last year Atos announced a three year extension to its contract with the department, worth £300m (€350m; $480m), to "support the UK government's welfare reform agenda."1 Atos is the sole contractor, and the medical reports it generates are used to make decisions about eligibility for employment and support allowance. This benefit, which has been replacing incapacity benefit and income support since 2008, is paid to people who are medically unfit to work because of illness or disability. The weekly allowance, once the claim has been verified with an assessment of capability, is worth up to £96.85. The government estimates that 2.5 million UK citizens receive sickness benefits at an annual cost of around £12.6bn to the taxpayer.2
A quick glance at internet discussion forums suggests widespread dissatisfaction from people who have been assessed. The adverts for Atos, however, consist of smiling, badged professionals saying, "Getting home on time has become part of my daily routine."1 The lack of on-call duties and the 9-5 office hours were also the major advantage plugged at the evening, where nurses and doctors working for Atos helped to promote joining the company.
Isolated view
But what are the ethical issues in performing disability assessments in this way, separate from the NHS and without access to patients' full medical records? Atos was awarded the assessment contract in 2005 and claims that its reports are "evidence based, clearly presented, legible and fully justified."3 Are medical assessments accurate enough to make major decisions about people's ability to work? And is Atos the best company to do them?
The message from the recruitment evening was quite clear. We were told: "You are not in a typical caring role. This isn't about diagnosing." And: "We don't call them patients . . . We call them claimants." Training is provided for each type of benefit examination. Its length, we were told, depends on experience but is generally up to five days of classroom training, followed by sessions accompanied by a trainer that are audited afterwards.
Full time doctors can earn £54 000 as basic salary plus various benefits including private healthcare. Sessional doctors work a minimum of four sessions a week and are paid "per item"— £35.16 for an incapacity benefit examination and £51.37 for non-domiciliary disability living allowance (DLA) examination, for example . The application forms for sessional doctors state that "10 DLA domiciliary visits cases per week would earn £40 211.60 per annum. Five LCWRA/ LCW [limited capacity for work related activity/limited capacity for work] cases per session, for six sessions per week, would earn £62 883.60 per annum."
Throughput is a clear focus. The average morning or afternoon session should consist of five assessments, and it was made clear at the recruitment evening that clinicians who did not achieve this regularly would be picked up quickly on audit trails and speed of work addressed.
Nurses and physiotherapists do effectively the same job as doctors in the centres, but do not see people with neurological conditions such as stroke or multiple sclerosis. Otherwise people are seen on a first come, first served basis. One nurse in the audience asked about training in mental health, as she had had little training in this area and would not feel competent to assess it in a fitness for work setting. The reply was that health professionals were "very thoroughly assessed" at interview for their abilities; however, general nurses were often taken on and given training. Is a relatively short training course thereafter enough to ensure the assessments are medically accurate and fair?
Duty of care
Atos chose not to be interviewed by the BMJ , although the Department for Work and Pensions referred me to the organisation for questions about recruitment, training, and audit that it couldn't answer.
However, from the recruitment evening it was clear that the medical examination consisted of a computerised form to be filled in by choosing drop down statements and justifying them. For example, you could say "able to walk with ease" if you witnessed this or the patient told you this.
The professional role of the doctor is very different from that in the typical NHS. Paul Nicholson, chair of the BMA Occupational Medicine Committee, says that working in this environment brings specific difficulties. "Notwithstanding a contractual obligation to provide a report to a government department, I still have a professional duty of care to the patient and to make the care of the patient my first concern."
The Faculty of Occupational Medicine publication Good Occupational Medical Practice reinforces the General Medical Council's position that, good medical care "must include adequately assessing the patient's conditions, taking account of the history (including the symptoms, and psychological and social factors), the patient's views, and where necessary examining the patient; providing or arranging advice, investigations or treatment where necessary; referring a patient to another practitioner, when this is in the patient's best interests."4
In other words, it expects doctors to adhere to the same professional conduct as they would in any other role.
Does it work?
So is the current method of assessment fit for purpose? There is a queue of people who think not. The Citizens Advice Bureau Scotland , in a report last year, noted "the vast majority of complaints and advice queries stem from the Work Capability Assessment."5 This includes both the result of the assessment as well as the manner in which it was carried out, it said. "Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is extremely concerned that many clients are being found fit for work in their Work Capability Assessment despite often having severe illnesses and/or disabilities. Our evidence has highlighted the cases of many clients with serious health conditions who have been found fit for work, including those with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, terminal cancer, bipolar disorder, heart failure, strokes, severe depression, and agoraphobia."
The report noted that under the previous incapacity benefit system, 37% of claimants were being found fit for work, whereas work capability assessments are finding 66% fit to work. It also gave examples where advice from people's general practitioners that they were not fit to work was disregarded. The report found that clients often "felt hurried in their assessment and that the healthcare professional was ignoring the answers they were providing to the questions in the assessment. There was a general feeling that the assessor made little eye contact with the claimant and spent most of the assessment entering information into their laptop." This tallies with the recruitment evening, when it was made clear that efficiency with entering details into the computer system was a stipulation of employment.
The Department for Work and Pensions says, in response, that "It's unfair to suggest that the system isn't working." However, published statistics of the 600 000 new claims for employment and support allowance from October 2008 to May 2010, show that 39% were assessed as fit for work. Around a third of these people appealed this decision, 40% of whom won.6 The department says, "If a decision is overturned at appeal, it does not necessarily mean that the original decision was inaccurate—often, customers produce new evidence to their appeal." However, this doesn't really deal with the problem that the healthcare professionals doing the assessments are not, therefore, forwarding sufficient evidence to enable reliable decisions.
At the meeting, I asked how it was possible to know the variation in symptoms that a patient may have during a one-off assessment. I was told that this could be "difficult" but this "wasn't an occupational health service." Instead, it was a "functional assessment." Despite being told that the decision to award benefits or not rested with a layperson within the work and pensions department, the reports were often referred to as "judgments" where making decisions may be "not always clear cut . . . but as long as you can say, on balance." For example, you could watch someone walking into the room and ask how he or she got to the assessment centre in order to judge mobility. One assessment, which initially reported a woman was fit to work, reported as evidence that her mental health was reasonable that she "did not appear to be trembling . . . sweating . . . or make rocking movements."7
Other countries rely more on general practitioner assessments of fitness to work. For example, in the Republic of Ireland , general practitioners mainly certify patients and a doctor acting for the Department of Social Protection reviews around 12% of cases as a control mechanism. In Sweden , a certificate from your general practitioner does not automatically entitle you to sickness pay. However, the certificate asks for a description of how illness affects work capacity and a time frame. Just 3.5% of claims are turned down, and about 10% of these are overturned at appeal.
So what is the optimal system? Malcolm Harrington, emeritus professor of occupational health at the University of Birmingham , reviewed the work capability assessment system last year8 and is currently writing a second review. He wrote: "The pathway for the claimant through Jobcentre Plus is impersonal, mechanistic and lacking in clarity. The assessment of work capability undertaken for the DWP by Atos Healthcare suffers from similar procedural problems. In addition, some conditions are more subjective and evidently more difficult to assess. As a result some of the descriptors may not adequately reflect the full impact of such conditions on the individual's capability for work. The final decision on assigning the claimant to one of the three categories theoretically rests with the Decision Maker at Jobcentre Plus but, in practice, the Atos assessment dominates the whole procedure. This imbalance needs correcting."
His view is that "the Jobcentre Plus Decision Makers do not in practice make decisions, but instead they typically 'rubber stamp' the advice provided through the Atos assessment." The Citizens Advice Bureau shares this view and says it wants "better accuracy" in reports. But how can this be achieved when funding is devolved to Atos with no routine access to detailed specialist or general practice based information and opinion? Professor Harrington says this "results in the Atos assessment driving the whole process, rather than being seen in its proper context as part of the process." And so, as things stand, how sure can Atos doctors be that they doing their professional duty?
Cite this as: BMJ 2011;342:d599
· Competing interests: The author has completed the unified competing interest form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available on request from her) and declares no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisation that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; and no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.
· Provenance and peer review: Commissioned; not externally peer reviewed.
1. ↵
Atos. UK government Department for Work and Pensions agrees BPO medical services contract with Atos Origin. Press release, 16 Nov 2010.www.atosorigin.com/en-us/Newsroom/en-us/Press_Releases/2010/2010_11_16_05.htm.
2. ↵
Commons Select Committee. Support to incapacity benefits claimants through Pathways to Work. 2010.www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/news/committee-of-public-accounts-support-to-incapacity-benefits-claimants-through-pathways-to-work-/.
3. ↵
Atos Origin. Lima —evidence based medicine in action. 2006.www.uk.atosorigin.com/NR/rdonlyres/57A2ACB1-CF8D-4414-9157-FBFE1E586957/0/AO_AD_CaseStudy_EBM.pdf.
4. ↵
Faculty of Occupational Medicine. Good occupational medical practice. 2010. www.facoccmed.ac.uk/library/docs/p_gomp2010.pdf.
5. ↵
Citizens Advice Scotland . The work capability assessment. 2010.www.cas.org.uk/Resources/CAS/Migrated Resources/Documents/CR Work capability assessment.
6. ↵
Department for Work and Pensions. Employment and support allowance: work capability assessment by health condition and functional impairment: official statistics. 2011.http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_25012011.pdf.
7. ↵
Mind. New benefit will fail to spot illness and disability. 30 March 2010.www.mind.org.uk/news/3166_new_benefit_test_will_fail_to_spot_illness_and_disability.
8. ↵
Harrington M. An independent review of the work capability assessment. 2010. www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-review-2010.pdf.
Gordon Tracey permalinkSeptember 30, 2011 10:12 am
I was examined by an Atos Healthcare Professional, for an ESA claim. I asked twice, if they were a doctor; they said they were.
I believe Dr. xxxx xxxx, of Atos, has no medical qualifications, and has taken the identity of Dr. xxxx xxxx, registered in the GMC records.
(apologies but thats the kinda thing you need to provide evidence of before we can publish it)
Gordon Tracey permalinkSeptember 30, 2011 10:15 am
I sent the information I found, to IDS, (my MP, who cannot help me, because he is not allowed to interfere in individual cases), GMC, Atos, and the Upper Tribunal Judges, on whom I'm waiting upon to grant me leave to appeal – no benefits for 11 months.
September 1, 2012 12:16 pm
First off, I am so very sorry this has happened to you. My request for a carer has continued, and the latest letter indicated they are assessing cases from March 2012, as the let go of many for this very purpose. How are you living without Benefits? I would be permanently housebound in a care facility or would have to take a trip to Switzerland. For sightseeing, of course.
I live every day in fear for me and my cats. I have 2 friends that aid in my needs and worry that I am not eating enough. It is difficult to handle the resolute decline of my abilities and find any appetite. What part of 'chronic' and 'incurable' do they not understand? Have they set a date? Did they record your assessment? Do you have legal representation?
You have my information. If you need to chat please do not hesitate.
Francis Chambers permalinkOctober 4, 2011 3:25 pm
Will the inevitable end to this be the re introduction of the workhouse? Policy on making criminals work have always blurred into unemployment initiatives,viz. work teams in street cleansing. We have both major political parties finding old people are a problem, 'baby boomers' being a drain on tax payers, single parents are the cause of criminal children, the terminally ill are only allowed to be terminally ill for twelve weeks, soldiers from Afghanistan who have lost their legs lose their benefits the minute they get their 'new legs', all disabled people are scroungers, Gustav Le Bon advises all politicians along with the Reverand Samuel Smiles and this nation of caring, loving people are savaging the most vulnerable,(not the comatosed and dead which the government means) Blunkett may like social engineering, Frank Field may want to rid Britain of these troublesome people but IDS sets up a think tank to echo his plans and everyone believes it is independant. Why do politicians hate the people of this country, why do they manufacture consent by dehumanising the disabled, why do the people of Britain allow them to do so? I am a 1st. Gulf War Veteran with Gulf War Syndrome which the American Government and Medical Board has accepted but not The MOD. I am now apparently going to become a scrounger according to Atos and the Daily Express. Well done Britain I don't particularly like your 'We're all in it together big tent'. Why not just gas us?
Bistouquette permalinkFebruary 29, 2012 11:02 pm
Hi Francis, I'd like to know more about your story could provide details for contact?
September 1, 2012 1:28 pm
We have many concerns, as there are many closed Stations like RAF Bicester, Heyfords, and many more. Working for free and placing the vulnerable and disabled with just a little adaptation. All they need to do is add "Arbeit Macht Frei" at the sole entry. And before anyone rolls their eyes learn about scape-goat tactics.
First, the Disabled and Vulnerable. I am spit on, laughed at, and called names. The giddy little children point and laugh in my face almost EVERY TIME I am out. The Baby Boomers, the last generation that will receive the last pensions, are very funny, because they did F.A. but protesting and doing drugs for 15 years. How many of them lived in squats? Now if you are squatting you are going to HMP for six months. Yet living rough on the streets is your alternative?
There are plenty of buildings that could become housing, and there is a rising need coming from London because Cameron doesn't want to see the Disabled, except when it is politically convenient. Look at the way her milked the media titties when it came to his son, but now looking at his 'Government' it seems like his son is buried and gone. Out of sight, out of mind. Do you think that this isn't whispered by the back-benchers that believe he's too soft because he approves of Marriage Equality. Why does it bother the pensioners? Because it has always been about them. If they can drop their pens of rage, with hatred of the Disabled and the Vulnerable, and those Jobseekers!
Francis, this was the first blow that occurs in any Country for gaining the voices and actions of Hatred. It eventually becomes a Beast that gains momentum, and Boom! They will grab the next excuse and start all over. Machiavelli meets Mein Kampf. And there are many that do not remember, because Economics changed History. Pick off one perceived minority after another. No need to be specific, but make sure to frame it around money. Then sexuality. Then race. Then Old Age Pensioners. And then other religions. Step by step.
sandi g permalinkNovember 30, 2011 10:42 pm
MR Cameron should take heed of what people are saying on this matter and get rid of atos,
the £100millon a year the government will save on this, could go to the sick and disabled who need it,then they should scrap the methadone programe, and save another £100million
that it costs for this, its been running for about 10 years and its obviously doesnt work. shocking! if he doesnt listen to the people of this country, his government will be the next thing to get rid of. SG
patricia young permalinkJuly 14, 2012 2:47 pm
The last comment I read on this was dated November 30th 2011 and it is still the same. Why is nothing being done to stop this assault on this countrys disabled population
July 17, 2012 8:32 pm
I was down to see a Dr for assessment on the 30th of July and knowing I would be on holiday, I phoned ATOS to get an alternative appointment and was told to come along today the 17th July at 15:30 and I was dreading it cause I have heard all the horror stories and cause I am suffering with Fibromyalgia after injuring myself twice at work with sever back pain injuring myself the first time back in Nov 2010 and the resulting stress due to not being able to sleep which has lead to depression and anxiety. Needless to say I was "up to high doe" by the time I had to attend the appointment. I turned up on time only to be told they were running late and I would have to wait for a least 3/4 of an hour. I said I wouldn't be able to do that due to my anxiety and now I have been rescheduled for next Tues 24th July at 13:30 so now I have to go through this all again, God only knows how Im going to feel then! I'm not very hopeful of getting anywhere with this people after reading the above article. Leslie Dunbar
September 1, 2012 1:38 pm
Leslie, call Monday and request that your assessment is recorded. You have delayed this twice, and you had genuine reasons, but you will be automatically denied. Speak with a Disability Charity that deals with your diagnosis. You will receive no Legal Aid, and you need it! I don't want to be cruel. I'm being honest.
janet peacock permalinkAugust 1, 2012 11:05 am
The government should hang their heads in shame, after watching the BBC and channel 4 programs on 30/07/12 it is almost impossible for anyone to pass the atos esa medical, most people were under the impression that it was to weedle out the fraudsters and malinger's, but genuine disabled people are being turned down, this govermnent is victamising disabled people, a doctors diagnosis of unfitness to work means nothing today, how shameful.
janet peacock
Peeved and Annoyed permalinkAugust 14, 2012 8:28 am
I have now attended FOUR of these assessments, in each one I have been found 'fit for work' on each occasion I appealed and won. Now I am due another assessment as Atos seem to think that long term mental health problems can be cured within 6 months. The advice I would give anyone else having to endure these assessments.is this:
When you fill in the questionnaire always take a copy as experience has shown that DWP staff seem to have difficulty distinguishing the difference between Yes and No and do not understand the words Can Not, they will only see the first work and not the second.
Before starting the assessment get the FULL name and General Medical Council registration number. If they refuse then ask why they are refusing as it is contrary to the GMC guidelines.
Do not be scared to refuse to do anything that you feel you cannot do.. it is your right to do this, no matter what Atos say to you. Do not be scared to take notes in with you and take notes during the assessment… better still use a mobile to record the session or exercise your right to have the session recorded.. but still keep your own version of events. Always try to have someone go with you.
Once you get the 'fit for work' decision as you inevitably will read through the report and highlight any factual inaccuracies and then appeal showing where the report is in error and then lodge a formal complaint with the GMC on their web site
Buzz words are.. APPEAL and COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN and APPEAL. Atos currently cost the tax payer £50m a year in appeal costs, money which could be paid to the needy. Perhaps we should start a campaign to make Atos pay for the appeal.
August 16, 2012 1:36 pm
Dave M. I to have gone though the Atos exam and deemed fit for work although for over ten years i have been deemed Unfit for work by the service that did the exam`s before even being told this exam is a waist of time as yoy will never get better and this will be recorded by me on your file. Now this lot say i am after reading though the abridged version of the report i found incorrect information written down and things left out altogether, demanding a full copy of the report i got it the other week after my appeal was turned down and i now need it for a tribunal hearing. Reading this and going over and over it all i can say I love reading and this report is with out dought the very, very best piece of fiction i have read. telling the examiner who i find out was not a doctor but a nurse, i have a degeneration of the spine and arthritis in both feet and knees and a problem with my hip this was brushed off as "Oh thats just old age" the spine and arthritis was down as A back problem- arthritis in knees. The exam to raise my arms which i could`nt do even though it was to put my arms behind me left me screaming in pain and unable to use the arm for several minutes afterwards, I told i can grip a pen trying the exam for this i had to prise myright hand fingers loose with my left hand yet i`m fit to do all sorts of work so they say. i according to them was able to sit quite happily for 10-20 min`s if you count getting up every few minutes comfortable i don`t think so.
I wrote to Mr Cameron to intervene but got a call from W & P telling me he cannot "Yes he could if it made good press" but now i`m left with awaiting the tribunal and left to worry how i`m suposed to work when I can neither walk, stand, sit lift or grip for any time what so ever. Yes they may change the dicision but if it motervated by how much they can save will it??? I think Atos even if they say they don`t get a bonus to get as many off the benefits as they can I think they do and i think the assessers get a cut of it too..
Edward Raymond Marshal permalinkAugust 27, 2012 11:19 pm
Soon hopefully gonna make my 60th birthday, i have had two heart attacks,impaired left ventricular function,three arteries 80% blocked, arthritis throughout the body,degenerative spine disease and sciatica, all this and i have just received a letter telling me that i have just been placed in the work related activity group!!!!!!whoopee, i am really loking forward to my new career….. possibly i could become a human speed bump and this frikkin inhumane Government can drive over me all day long. The only compensation i can console myself with is that in the close future this government and Atos who have worked together in a attempt to kill as many ill and disabled off as possible,will be hunted down like war criminals and made to pay for their corrupt joint evil doings….After all they are worse than the Nazis ever where ..
September 18, 2012 7:25 pm
Hi Dave, I went to a Tribunal in 1994 and the 3 people on the panel are not paid by the DWP or Atos and if your condition is as you say then please believe me you really have nothing to worry about, once the panel see your true condition it won't take more than 10 mins and they will place you in the support guaranteed, these Tribunal have not changed over the years and they are not on anyone's side, just make sure you have full medical report from GP/Consultants and get representation from CAB or whoever and you will be fine. By the way they are after me too even though I have multiple medical conditions varying from COPD, Chronic Cluster Headaches, walking Difficulties and on and on
September 1, 2012 12:17 am
Dear Sirs
Investigate this?
Yours faithfully
Martin Haswell BSc
September 18, 2012 7:05 pm
I believe that all Approved Disability Analysts who state they are a Registered Nurse or registered Professional Practitioners/Healthcare workers who have not fully discharged their Duty of Care towards clients of the DWP should face criminal proceedings if as a result of their negligence in wrongly assessing clients leads to harm or death of the client. These people should not be able to act so irresponsibly towards clients who come for Atos assessments and walk away at the end of the day with their couldn't care less attitude. If they thought they could end in Court charged with manslaughter or whatever they would soon change their attitude to the clients who turn up for these so called assessments. We need one of the bigger organisations to take a look at bringing a private prosecution against one of these so called Approved Disability Analysts and this will make the rest of them either take their job more seriously and take a more responsible attitude when it comes to assessing people or better still consider leaving Atos, one way or another something must happen to threaten the security of these people or nothing will change and they will just carry on mis-diagnosing people and throwing them of the benefits they should be getting. By the way the name of the Approved Disability Analyst will be on the ESA85A – Employment And Support Allowance – Medical Report Form, Atos have to send you this if you request it under the freedom of I nformationAct. This is the report that is filled in by the so-called Analyst to mostly deny people their benefits. I am on ESA and they say they will get me back to work in 18 months. I am over 62 with COPD Chronic Bronchitis, Dsypnea (had all these since infancy) plus I have serious walking difficulties and other serious conditions I will lose all my benefits in 11 months unless I can stop which I am in the process of hopefully doing with the help of CAB and a SRN I know, I will happily send a few £ to any organisation that will start up a fighting fund to prosecute one of these Approved Disability Analysts for negligence or whatever, these people cannot be above or beyond the reach of the Law. Oh and by the way I can't wait to meet this manager down at the so called job centre who is going to get me back to work, I can only presume his name is Jesus because it would take a miricle to get me back to work.
September 19, 2012 9:05 am
Hi Brian,
Many thank for you letter yes you are probably right its just that when it come down to it and as you well know go though all this its very, very hard to trust any of them be it they represent Atos or any other body.
Just a question don`t you get sick to the back teeth like me that we have to go though this all the time and all the stress it causes "yes " ok there are those out there getting it and shouldn`t but come on if they are professionals like they are suposes to be they can tell the difference between someone who need to walk with an aid and those swinging the leg. Or have i just got very, very cyinical and have a down on these is there any thing to say polite about them]..
Keep well my friend.
September 19, 2012 4:16 pm
Hi Dave,
Nice to get a reply, go and have a look at this video
If for some reason the link has been deleted let me know at
email@example.com and I'll send you the link, anyway send me your email address as I have a document you might want to look at.
As For being cynical, I stopped trusting people many years ago, sad situation I know, but it doe's seem that now'r days people are more likely to do you a bad turn rather than a good one and yes I'm sick and tired of all the stress and watching the true scroungers getting away with it time and time again while people who are truthful get nailed to the wall.
Dave when you talk to DWP or Atos or in fact your own GP or Consultants or even CAB only ever tell them about your worst days never never ever tell them about good days as this is what they will use against you and stop your benefits, no you are not a liar you are just not telling them any information that they can use against you at any assessments or Tribunal, never admit anything especially good days, and most of all don't let them get away with saying you could use a wheelchair or that you can walk 50 metres without pain or move from one chair to another without assistance. Insist on having a recording of any assessment and if you can have someone with you who can record it on a mobile phone or hand held record or whatever, remember these people will put their own spin on the assessment but if it was recorded you have full evidence. If you fill in any assessment forms or whatever you can now download these as PDF documents so you can take your time filling them in and making changes over and over until you have it right, if you have said anything on previous forms that may help the DWP don't worry about it if brought up at the Tribunal, just say you were under a lot of stress at the time and struggled to fill the form in and just made mistakes as you felt so much pressure, always remember Tribunals deal with the Law not what DWP or Atos think or don't think so the onus is on them to prove their case which most of the time they can't.
All the best
John Bradley permalinkSeptember 24, 2012 1:37 pm
Back in November 2010, due to the break up of my marriage, and already suffering from depression due to previous employment, I was taken into custody of the police in colchester for an attempt on my life. If my parents had not been there, the police would have sectioned me and taken me to our local hospital. I was seen by the medical team, and a member of the crisis team and eventually released back to my parents. I wass taken to my Doctors who prescribed me high dosage of prozac, and was being monitored by my family.
In June 2011, I was transfered from Sick pay to ESA, on the basic rate of GBP 67.50, until I had my medical. I waited 39 weeks for my medical, and upon attending, I already knew that
I was going to be denied the full rate and to be returned to work. Despite advising them that I was on the highest dosage of Prozac, burst into tears for no reason, suffered with anxiety attacks, could not leave the house unless accomapanied by someone i knew, had sleepless night,because I could dress myself and feed myself, and had no physical disability, I was deemed ok to return to work.
I did appeal, and despite these symptoms being quite apparent, the appeal went against me and was advisedI was fit for work. That was back in Feb this year. As of today, im still being paid the minimum rate of ESA, I have hd not indication of what im to do next. I did enquire with the DWP with regards to my appeal,and they had advised me that even two months after my appeal hearing, they have recieved no paperwork with regards to my appeal,
My conditions are degenerating considerably and find it very hard to go out with being accompanied or being with people I know. I go days by without sleep, my health is suffering,
because a Doctor, who was of romanian origin could not find anything PHYSICALLY wrong with me.
There seems to be no help available to me whatsoever, even mr GP has written to the DWP regards to this, and as of yet, I have heard nothing.
I dont hold our Prime minister fully accountable for these drastic changes, at the end of the day, he has had to hit hard on benefit fraud, we cannot deny this, he is only doing what should have been done years ago, but no previous leader has had the balls to do. However, it would have been more viable for this country to target, FAIRLY, the long term unemployed and route out the Benefit fraudsters first.
All the Best
John Bradley.
September 24, 2012 5:55 pm
In regards to benefit fraud, tax fraud by his own MPs is far higher. The DWPs own statistics advise that out of the 2.6 million claimants, 0.5% are fraudluent- and the rise in claimants is due to better survival rates amongst disabled children and an aging population. DLA and other benefits as part of the disabled benefit system are cheaper than the other frauds and are needed. The governments obsession with targetting the vulnerable is typical of a Tory government – Thatcher did the same.
The original point of DLA was to ensure that the higher costs of living and the general hatred felt toward disabled people (particularly during times of financial hardship and in the arena of work, where fear from other people causes difficult to prove discrimination) could be mitigated by helping them to survive, give them support where it's needed and help them to live as independantly as possible, with the potential to work should employers be willing to employ them.
In regards to your circumstances John, have you tried speaking to your local Active Communities Team? They deal with issues like these all the time and are good, honest people. They won't charge you for their help and often they are listened to far more than health professionals as they are often seen as an official body, rather than as a tool of the state to be ignored.
All the best,
Jo Yelland
September 24, 2012 5:41 pm
I am standing in the County elections in Durham next year and I've noticed the sheer increase in poverty-stricken people with disabilities, particularly those with a mental health condition. I have a genetic form of epilepsy and was forced out of my job. I was so disgusted with the governments handling of, well, pretty much everything, I have decided to do something about it myself. I am looking for work, I have a disability that causes me continous pain but I can move – be interesting to see what Atos have to say to me, I will report it fully on Facebook.
With their history of arms-trading (some proven illegal), NHS cock-ups and privatisation by the back door, security breaches involving personal data and their despicable view of the vulnerable, Atos should never have been granted any contract in the UK – their company history was so bad already they should not have been considered for any role.
I sincerely hope that your cases get successfully appealed and you get the funds and help you deserve. A mark of a civilised society is not what it acheives for it's economy, but what it acheives to provide equal outcomes for all. I do not know what I can do, but please feel free to contact myself or the Green Party – if we can help, we will help and we will do everything we can to stop Atos.
August 28, 2013 6:33 pm
Hi Jo, I see that you post was dated sept, so I hope that you get this message. I have been on disability living allowance , and was awarded the benefit for life on 7/12/94. This was changed to Employment and Support Allowance on 23/11.12 and I have had a home visit by a 'doctor, I suffered a 'subarachnoid aeneryism' and underwent two brain operations. I can lift my arms and walk, but I cannot remember for more than a couple of hours, and I have very limited energy. I need at least a couple of naps a day. One midmorning after helping my disabled wife to get up. and another in the afternoon. If I go for an assessment in Birmingham there is no disabled parking there and no lift to the second floor office. Any advice you can offer me will be most welcome. I have tried to get a message to dodgy David Cameron, but no reply, despite all being in this together!
Mairi permalinkSeptember 26, 2012 11:22 am
I sent numerous consultants letters confirming my various ailments: Fibromyalgia, Fecal Incontinence, benign tremors, asthma, slight cognitive impairment, chronic ibs, plus my blood tests coming back as positive for rheumatoid arthritis (will be seen by Rheumatologist this week) I have had all my dla removed. According to the Dr, I can walk normally, 75 meters and with only the help of an aid. I can also climb stairs with an aid and lastly, I am not at risk if I fall even though I cannot get back up without crawling to somewhere that I can get purchase. , If I fall outside will there be somebody or something that will help me to get back up again and if not what do I do? My son is severely mentally disabled and he is the person that is helping me in the house. According to ATOS I do not need help more than an hour a day albeit that the doctor was informed that my son helps me every day and remains from about 1-2pm until about 5pm. I cannot travel on a bus except with my son and that depends if my legs and back are of a reasonable state. If I take a taxi, I have to lift my legs in to the car, by hand and vice versa. I also need somebody to help me get out of the car……………yet this doctor said I could walk and climb stairs with help. With regards to the point that when my RA flares up, I can neither hold a pot/pan even in my wildest dreams but according to him, I can. Again when RA flares up and my legs are neither recognizable or functioning, I can hardly get to sit on the loo and getting back up is extremely painful and difficult. His answer is to get a special seat installed…………do public places and toilets have these seats? I doubt it. So now it looks as if I am going to be housebound, a visit to my doctor once in a blue moon because I cannot travel on public transport without risk and extreme difficulty nor will I be able to afford to travel by taxi. BTW was asked "Have you Ever worked"? This to me implied that I might never have worked in my life. Another point of note is that if my son has to return to hospital (Last time 2 months) then I am scuppered until he is fit and well again.
October 4, 2012 8:17 am
I had a assesment 1/10/12 I arrived at the center and was told by the NURSE she could not carry out the test because I am waiting for thr results of a brain scan and she wasnt qualified to carry out the test I would be needed to be seen by a doctor I asked why this had not been picked up on reading my ESA50 and was met with silence. I am now awaiting a reply from the Cardiff office, I am meeting my M.P today, I have e mailed IDS and Chris Grayling but as yet I have not recieved reply,, I have also informed the ASA as I believe the pamphlet sent by DWP is misleading as it states YOU will be seen by a trained prfessional with expertise in your ilness this is clearly not the case. I am accussing ATOS of malpractice
Jason Pullen permalinkOctober 7, 2012 4:33 am
This is being sent to disabled organizations.
I am a victim of brain injuries caused by the UK government..who mistakenly cut my disability pension years previusly..but then rectified this error and said this would never happen again. The then it did. I have written to many offices regarding this but only find corrupt ignorance.
As I, and many other disabked citizens of the UK..those within or outside the UK, suffer from suicidal tendencies being incited by David Cameron, hence in self defence agaunst these incitements..killing is considered legal… I want to tell the wjole disabled world about the corrupt discriminatiom and incitement of suicidal tendencies by this man…and he can reap the 'rewards…'
Which disability organizations are mostly accessed by the disabled?
The message below is being sent to the HM courts…who understand the illegality of Mr Cameron's actions but knowinly distress me asking me to do what they know I cannot afford, because of the UK government robbing my entitled funds, to do..
——— ——— ——— ———
Ah, ..and how am I, a government victim effectively sent abroad due to injuries caused by the government…and hence robbed by our corrupt government after promises were made by the previous conservative government that my pension would NEVER fall…supposed to pay for this legal service?
As you can see, your offices are yet another section of this corrupt service…thinking to yourselves, 'ok..we hurt him…he was taken abroad because of us, we said his pension would never drop…but hold on there..we must consider the 'absolute discriminatory corruption' we need to action within our service…and even if the victims of our service suffer as he does, with suicidal tendencies…and make attempts to kill the relevant controller of these corrupt services…and although this killing will be seen as being under the self defence clause of law, ..caused due to the mental difficulties we provided these victims with..and hence the suicidal tendencies..and also the incitement for them to action these tendencies…the PM is not too worried that hoards of disabled..will..perhaps find guns…or big hammers – storming No.10..- or petrol…or..whatever means necessary to kill this 'attacker' who attempts to kill the disabled…
What will he do? ..hide in the trunk of the car…never leave No.10..never look out of the window… Etc etc..
I am contacting every disabled organisation in the world to provide details of this government attempt upon the lives of disabled people by the UK government, and asking that we mass together and attack our attacker…this will be presented in court that due to the effective incitement of the suicidal tendencies we all suffer, many as me who suffer due to the actions of the government, in the self-defence clause.
Tell the PM to sit in his bedroom – he can do most work on the internet maybe, ..and his meals can be served him there..
Jason Pullen
steve permalinkOctober 17, 2012 7:34 am
sorry guys but these farcical assessments blatant bullying of the sick infirm and disabled not by atos but by the currant government that allows it to proceed, mr camaron and his gang of henchmen need to make cuts and by hitting the above mentioned an easy target of genuinely unfit persons is as i say nothing less than bullying and we all know what we feel regarding bullies, our country is in financial dire straits the persecution of the esa dla and genuine benefit claimants will not stop. cameron and his opposite predecessors have buffooned the country with there total incompetence of politics and mismanagement while they feather there own nest and govern(or not !) from ivory towers, posting disgruntled blogs peacefull demos writing to your mp dwp etc lol will not work what we need is hard line demos anarchy and let this bunch of dunderheads and the next ship of fools as will surely happen that we mean business
October 19, 2012 2:04 pm
Earlier this year I listed down how Atos had treated me saying though their examination i am fit to work even though I cannot stand, sit, walk for any time. I now awaite a tribunal hearing which with all the one`s in front of me could we be into next year, so I have to make do with a cut in benefits yet still see the price of things go up i was informed by a spokes person from W & P that if I went onto job seekers i could and would get all my benefit back but as i pointed out the walking, standing and that my early years i was a motor mechanic and latter years in security its hard to raise a gear box above your head while holding onto an arm crutch also how can you chase down some one when you cannot walk. The answer"—————–" best you stay as you are then".
The other month after yet another fall and damaging myself yet again I came to the conclusion that i can no longer stay in my home somewhere that i have lived and grown up in for 50 years so applied to the council to go on the housing list for a smaller place somewhere flat i have been told i can apply for 1 bed flats which is what I look for but with the need of a shower these are not plentiful. So as the letter from "Them" states that any change in circumstances let us know which i did stating i thought this was a big change in circumstances. The answer is "NO" still, so as me and Dave[ Cameron] are real mates these days thought i would drop him a line again as at the time he was only up the road for his party get together and asked him if he had the back bone or guts to come and see my plight he could call round. Funny thing he never replied. So think that shows he has no back bone. at the time of sending him my first letter asking him to get involved i sent a copy to Ed Miliband you know the guy in charge of the other party that was set up years ago for the working man up to date he hasn`t even replied so think that shows what he`s like too. So the fight goes on and i now start to cut back on my possessions so that when and if i find somewhere i can get in. Thought about writing to Dave again just to tell him that should I suffer a strock, heart attack, nervous breakdown or anything else due to the stress i now live in it will all come back to him and his hench men….
October 23, 2012 3:23 pm
I was asteelworker on the railways 1971aged 18 when the train ran me over took my leg off …i pushed myself and got fit and back to work in three months but inappropiate work they gave me made me ill again which in years of corrective surgery ..i still managed to keep finding work …until things got so bad i to quitwork…atos have me in now at60.
October 23, 2012 3:32 pm
Glad to find people like you there . This will adversley affect me and i know i will return to all those effects of my disability that i have been able to keep at bay. I also care a live with my 86year old mum for free . She needs me as fit as i can be. My assesment dropped through door today imposible to get there on time …scary stuff…thought i done enough fighting them over yeard ..
October 23, 2012 3:50 pm
Comment to follow
nicola foskett permalinkOctober 30, 2012 5:58 pm
I passed my med and was put into support group last december 2011.got another esa 50 form to fill in again 12months later.im sending cover note again which i found on google which i had c.a.b agree with first.im sending copies to dwp.atos head office.local m.p.b.m.a operations officer again.condition not changed.they called me in before in 2011 as not enough supporting evidence from g.p.my doctor wants them to contact him asking for a specific pro forma" so ok..ive wrote in new form that they must request this from my g.p as hes invited them to do so….we will win in the end and black triangle helps us all feel better.please dont give up and harm yourselves theyre not worth it honest.thanks for reading will keep you all updated.from a g.s.d.fan
M.Aldersley permalinkNovember 7, 2012 7:16 am
Why is nobody taking any notice to people suffering???
November 7, 2012 8:49 am
Why doesn't someone copy and send these comments to Cameroon and his clones theres to much here to be heresay. I read yesterday about Osbornes plan to force addicts to get medical help or lose benefits how long before this applied to other illnesses. I wrote and asked if I volunteer could a get a new heart, 2 new kidneys and a new pancreas perhaps he knows someone who could donate wont get a heart off a conservative cos they aint got any
john smallwood permalinkOctober 17, 2013 11:03 pm
Kevin.you say why doesn't someone send these comments to Cameron. Cameron knows exactly what is going on , What people have got to do is get all their relatives to vote at the next election and get the prat out,not sure how many people actually vote 10% 20% I am not sure ,but if victims relatives vote it will swing it.
November 7, 2012 3:00 pm
Today i had a letter from the Ministerial Correspondence Team posh title only because i keep writing to our good friend "Dave Cameron" just to keep him up to speed on how my health is going from bad to worse. Yes i know him and his lot ain`t that bit interested but hey why should I have to suffer alone when all you get from W&P when you state my circunstancer has changed and you get back "NO change in decision" anyway in the letter it says that they have asked a Professor M. Harrington to review the workings of WCA now this is the third he has been asked to under take. He did a blinding job on the other two!!
Thing is can anyone out there say he has contacted them in any of other views to ask questions or does he just go by what Atos tell him ..
Also this other rubbish they came up with "If" you refuse treatment while sick we will stop your benefit sure when your sick you really want to stop or not have treatment what planet do these clowns live on. Your sick you want treatment..
November 8, 2012 6:18 pm
Hi Atos healthcare should change there name to Atos funeralcare disgusting Government lap dogs employed to persecute yet one of the most vulnerable poor groups in the Country Doctors swear on the Hippocratic oath this lot should swear on the hypocrites oath they seem to have no remorse for there actions just about the money saved for axe man Dave aka David Cameron & he`s gang of thieves, we are talking real people dying & suffering, has Axe mane Dave + gang had a days financial hardship in there whole lives how can they living off the fat of the land, please remember how the welfare state came about it was won for us by ordinary working class people with Wars strikes starvation & death given out of fear not kindness that the old guard might lose there grip at the top to extremists, do not be conned into the divide & conquer worker against unemployed brain washing I have seen in resent years via media & politicians unemployment or illness can come knocking on any ones door, Tories one nation logo what a joke, power to the people for once.
November 8, 2012 6:43 pm
Well said
KEVIN M FLAHERTY permalinkDecember 3, 2012 6:16 pm
December 3, 2012 6:34 pm
I had these feelings but decided to fight if you don't carry on they will have won this is what they want, after you've gone they will just move on to the next victim and still get paid for doing so. Don't give in fight back we will get there eventually
nikki permalinkDecember 28, 2012 8:27 pm
I was assessed by an Atos doctor and the report on his observations were disgraceful and a pack of lies . He was rude ,ignorant and rushed me during the assessment .He refused to look at further evidence which was put in a file to show him . I was removed from high rare care and mobility of DLA to nil overnight ,and this Doctor's report defineatly held the majority clout in the decision .I have suffered long term mental health problems for 18 years , am 100 % dependent on people ,cant go out alone or even stay in alone .I feel detached from reality nearly 24/7 .I have had to have electric shock treatment for suicide attempts as a result of depressive illness .I feel detached from my own self ,have no confidence or self esteem .I suffer with bladder and bowel incontinence ,severe anxiety ,panic attacks. I was under a psychiatric consultant for 17 years ,and was only discharged a year ago because my consultant had exhausted all avenues of medication ,including Lithium ,electric shock therapy ,counselling ,psychotherapy ,psychology none of which made any significant improvement to me . Every day of my life is a living hell in my mind and body .I get no feelings of joy ,happiness , I suffer with fibromyalgia which went un diagnosed until recently ,which can range from everyday pain in my knees ,stiffening ,pain ,stiffness in neck back ,shoulders arms ,wrists ,fingers . constant feeling of heaviness and fatigue throughout my body and mind . I have a condition where i fall asleep without warning and this could be dangerous if unsupervised .I told this doctor who is also by the way also a general practitioner at a surgery about half hr away from where i live .I told him how mixed up ,confused i get very easily and cant concentrate or take in information around me .I told him of the derealization i suffer with this word not even used in the report ,past self harm with razor blades ,suicidal thoughts of which he described as strange thoughts .Bed wetting which is embarrassing to talk about to a stranger let alone a male .Yet he summarized me as friendly , well nourished , well built ,intelligent ,no signs of sweating or shaking ,refused to get up and walk ,yet did not say in his report that I could not walk as my feet were in so much pain and I could not stand on them .Since this visit and being signed off dla ,i am lost our mobility vehicle and therefore the slightest small piece of independence i had enabling me to get out on short journeys .I have lost my appetite completely ,experiencing tremouring through out my body all day every day . Im not sleeping ,i have relapsed mentally having suicidal thoughts of which i had to been seen on 3 occasions by the crisis mental health team and referred urgently back to my previous psychiatric consultant , both my antidepressants increased .I emailed the GMC on 3 separate occasions firstly dating back to early November ,yet had no response from any of my emails . Its my strong belief that the Dr who visited me from Atos has no duty of care to patients and only to that of Atos .I even complained about this Dr to Atos and basically its mine and my partners word against his as we had no impartial witness . He even lied what time he arrived and left my home . So 18 years of suffering with mental health problems ,physical problems , people dependent and all listed above ,existing in my life not even wanting to live ,having to be supervised / cared for with personal needs ,living my life scared like a little child .Yet somehow Atos was able to cure me overnight by sending a doctor who obviously has no understanding of mental health or the complexity . or the fact that just because i can relay to him how i feel .how i am effected ,how i suffer does not warrant someone being described as intelligent ,what about the fact that years of medication and lack of mobility has made it difficult for me to lose weight ,He ticked i didnt need help with basically anything that in his opinion i can manage all alone .. Duty of care I seriously think not .. This has been typed for me by my cousin as i am unable to do it but am with her as she types this on my behalf.I Am a mother grandmother do you really think i want to be suffering like this DWP ? CAMERON ? ATOS ?
No I dont .I want to be normal ,live a normal life ,and yes be able to work for a living as i did before my breakdown
January 2, 2013 10:45 pm
I all the time used to read article in news papers but now as I am a user of net thus from now I am using net for posts, thanks to web.
Amanda permalinkFebruary 8, 2013 6:53 pm
I was deemed fit to work by Atos, just because I could lift my hand and leg in the air! I have a chronic back condition and can walks quite a few yards – but when working for 7 hours plus on my feet I am nearly a cripple. I have been going to the Doctors for over 4 years with this back complaint and only just got an xray! My condition is now worse as I have been working with this damaged back. If Atos had my health at concern I would have been scanned an had x- ray by them. Atos works for the government to reduce claimants and has nothing to do with insuring you are medically fit to work.
Ste permalinkFebruary 25, 2013 10:34 pm
Why are all these Healthcare Doctors not named and shamed on this or any other site and then prosecuted for not following the General Medical Council guidelines in patients healthcare ?
February 26, 2013 9:25 am
I lodged an official complaint about the treatment and the examiner who wrote me off got letter back from ATOS the other day was told they are well within there rights not to put down all the information we as customers give them. it would appear they can pick and choose what they put down think it all depends on if they have reached the quota for the week of how many they pass though.. Me with my big mouth said it affects the bonus they get for turning people down i`m told they don`t get a bonus well if you believe that!!
March 18, 2013 10:06 am
What gets me we know ATOS are the paid puppets of Herr Cameron and his band of cut throats but though out all this mayhem being caused by ATOS, I have not hear or read and comments from the party that is supposed to be for the little man in the street Labour. Just to say when we get back in we will look at the workings of the company and put right all the wrongs they have caused. BUT NOTHING who can you trust these days.
May 2, 2013 9:20 am
Labour started these tests under James Parnell when he has DWP Secretary.
March 23, 2013 3:12 pm
i'm 62yrs old in dec,i've had parkinsons approx 4yrs,now getting worse.i receive my state pension on 6th sep 2013,and now have to have another medical,parkinsons is a digenerating disease it's not going to improve.my main anoyance is a cost of £80 to the tax payers,my children who all work,like i have all my life until i fell ill.these people are getting rich.this £80 could be going to something more useful.
April 30, 2013 6:41 pm
I have been through all the traumas listed before and have been waiting over one year on an appeal date. My GP Pratice has refused to support me citing a, "Conflict of interest", whatever that means. I have sent a letter to my vascular consultant and await a reply. My condition leaves me very suseptible to diabetic foot ulcers which cost on average £15 000 per year to treat. I have had 6 of these in the past 4 years. So where is the saving verses my £21 per week cut?
May 7, 2013 1:43 pm
ATOS/DWP don't have patients we are cutomers, so do we have any re-course under sale of goods act for not fit for purpose as we are classed as customers it suggests we are receiving or purchasing a service?
May 8, 2013 6:57 am
A message sent to the government and relevant defenders of our cause..
'David the fiend stalks quietly…purely intent on murder,'
So, relevant laws seem to dismiss this crime when committed politically, and over an extended period of time. The cause of these murders is strangely not seen as an episode of murders..but rather as a natural occurance..
'but you are causing them an inability to provide themselves with adequare nutrition, ..and surely this will be seen..their difficulties within life will explode!' an underling comments.
'..but this is over an extended period,' the murderer says, 'and they will not see the real intent I have.'
'..intent?…for what exactly?' ..the underling, Michael, asks…looking confused.
'I want to elitize England…and if I remove the funds needed to provide adequate nutrition – a.) I will save money I can spend on what else I want, and b). This will remove a drain on public funds, they will suffer health difficulties and die early.' the murderer giggles quietly. 'I am helping the poor and needy as I said I would…helping them to stop being a drain on my..er..public funds..as they will die!'
Michael looks into the murderers eyes..'but this may be understood!'
'…and all I will need to do is say that they CAN provide adequate nutrition…if they drink less alcohol…smoke less…socialize less…give less dessert to the kids..wear fewer clothes…watch less television…listen to less music..etc, as if the bills are lower they can buy the necessary eggs and milk and juice..so they can see that this is not only my fault.'
A shout is heard from the Labour area..'so we will have many stupid naked people begging for fag-ends in the street!'
..'and many complaints about strange criminals watching your tv from your garden!' says his manager..
'and a new title for the most suddenly growing crime,' says a backbencher, 'robabeerorten'…or maybe 'craterobbery..' ..by the Entitledprovisionrobbers…
Michael shakes his head…'but this is a long-term death sentence for those in need of assistance…and some of these may be in this situation because of the English government previous errors.'
'..that they cannot see…' David, the murderer says.
Michale stands before the crowds of attendees, 'I ask you all, if David is intent on causing these unfortunate citizens to suffer hunger thirst…and many social inadequacies..who is in agreement?'
'..we want our jobs,' is heard from a corruptician at the rear, 'so we follow where we are led'
Michale slumps to his chair, 'if we begin to kill the poor and needy, ..what will happen if you lose your job?' he asks.
'..er,' the politician replies, 'but I can find other work!'
'when?,' asks Michael, 'soon enough to prevent your life being shortened.'
'..probably,' his voice sounds unsure…
Another attendee from the health section stands, 'David, if you commit this error, the outcome, maybe in years to come, will be that some…perhaps many victims of your crime will search to find and punish you..'
'but I may be living in another country,' says David…
'in a property purchased with conveniently erased public funds…' is heard from another.
'I have the right!,' says David, 'politically, I can take whatever I want whenever I want it and say it was used for governmental assistance.'
'but,' an office boy mutters, 'there is always a small percentage who will …react. Maybe less than 0.0005% of the affected persons, but from this affected numbers of victims, this is equal to 4,000 people …who are wanting to pull that trigger!/throw that grenade/start that fire/flip that switch/use that hammer/electrify that toilet seat…and the only thing important here is that this 0.000000125% of the affected victims…is that they are in the right place atthe right time… Bye bye David!…Hello recovery from ..Hitler2..I wonder who will..I wonder who won't? ..given the choice…I know what is more enticing…
'David, you'll get shot,' is heard, 'sooner than you think!'
'who said that?' demands David.
'I did,' says the tea lady/janitor/pissed employee with family dying due to him/labour lunatic/conservative lunatic/American lunatic.. lifting an assault rifle from his/her side, 'and to ensure you feel the punishment…the shots will be from toe to head…so you can suffer..'
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG…the gun roars….and David falls screaming to his knees..blood everywhere, '..but I hate the disabled…they die on you..' he groans.
'as YOU will die on us you corrupt scummy wanker, defrauding those in need!'
..applause starts from the group…and quickly builds to a deafening orchestra.
'YEEAH!,' shout many, 'thank him/her for saving England!'
'YES,' says another, 'the new PM…he/she can do no worse that that dead idiot!'
Headline, 'David gets his due…from the ever so small percentage who acted appropriately against the robbery he was intent upon..'
les permalinkMay 22, 2013 2:40 pm
Hi All
Retired on partial pension by Tesco after 18 yrs service on medical grounds now aged 58
Just had the dreaded phone call have failed
options are appeal ( what happens if your dr wont support your apeal i believe this is happening quite a lot )
sign on (unemployable due to pain mobility etc )
several degenerative conditions
deformed hip
fused spine
arthritic knees
a) DWP decision maker had no medical qualifications
b) ATOS descision maker who called me in was a reg nurse
assesment done by a reggistered nurse
I was under the impression that A + B Decisions had to be made by someone with the relevent qualifications ?
May 26, 2013 5:29 am
I am suicidally tendant due to injuries caused by the UK government, ..and David Cameron is continuing to incite these tendenckes, so to devend my life…he must die. Self devence can be committed by ANY person aware of any actions that will cause the death of others, so any citizen can kill him and claim self defence for the many sufferers of this.
…give me a gun and I will do this.
dylan permalinkJune 7, 2013 11:31 am
the job centre are trying to get me into a stupid work related group or rather they were trying last year ,I went to the advice centre and they filled in an appeal but in the end after people told by the advice centre that the appeal my mess up my claim in some way I decided not to bother doing it ,months later then a few weeks ago I got a letter off the tribunal saying they had got my appeal ,this was strange as the advice centre already told me that they would not send the appeal unless they had my permission, signature and a copy of my passport, a few days later I decided not to go ahead with it and I remembered the advice centre saying to me they would not go ahead with the appeal for me unless I came in with a copy of my passport because the day I filled the appeal forms in I didn't have any I.D ,a few days later I thought about it and decided not to go back in to the advice centre because I didn't want to go through all the stress plus the advice centre had already told me that if I go ahead with the appeal then it could swing both ways ,for me or against me ,anyway today I got a tribunal letter about my appeal ,this means them idiots at the advice centre still sent the appeal even though I didn't bring them a copy of my passport or any I.D, the appeal was against the decision to put me in their stupid ass waste of time work related joke group, i suffer from anxiety, depression, social phoebia and I have a ridiculous temper if I am put under stress or forced to do anything I cannot do ,I have been arrested many times for coming out of an anxiety attack and lashing the first person I see, I don't have any control at all ,I have attacked police officers for circling me and attacking me and I have been to prison for it ,I have anxiety attacks and pass out and in the passed I have caught people trying to rob me so I have beaten holy hell out of them and its uncontrollable ,I care about nothing ,not even to eat ,I have destroyed my home and I have no friends or family and no help what so ever no matter where I look, the tribunal letter I got is asking me if I should go ahead with the appeal ,the thing is ,if I go ahead then it could work out for me or it might not ,either way if I lose it means I have to go into the group ,if I get put into the group then im gona beat the living hell out of all the people in the group andif I don't get into the group at some point they will try to stop my money which will result in me going mental and getting arrested again, i cant work coz of the anxiety etc etc and working alongside people I will end up smashing their faces in ,I was physically and mentally abused as a child ,my mother and sisters have been through hell and back and my mother got a divorce from my father because he was violent, i have no friends and cant handle a relationship because I am unable to do anything normal, the only good outcome I fear is that I may end up killing all the people in atos,im serious too if get pushed I explode,did I mention them 4 coppers get put into hospital for having broken noses ,jaws and cheeks? I have destroyed my home uncontrollably ,I pulled off all the doors in the house ,ripped them off like they were paper,launched microwave through kitchen window ,smashed all plates up and everything I own ,I don't have a tv or anything worth anything coz its all broken,if anything gets replaced it also gets broken, they want to get me into a support group ,my father tried to drown me and broke my ribs and beat me and my family up and now I am suffering the worst mental health problems, im worried if they put me in a group or deny my appeal I will beat everybody up and get arrested again ,they know my problems I have written them down a million times ,if I felt pushed by them I will blow up their cars and smash their heads in like the hulk ,doctors and such didn't help me when I was a youngster now they are paying the price for ignoring me when all my friends wee in work ,they have turned me into a psycho I think ,they are still pushing me and pushing,i have no idea what im doing or what I can do ,all I know is this is getting worse and worse and if they keep pushing me threatening me it feels like then atos cars will explode and heads are gona roll, what can I do ? the dr has my medical report,he has proof etc that I have problems,should I go ahead with the tribunal appeal etc? if I do and they stop my money then im gona kill some one
June 7, 2013 1:04 pm
There are special hospitals for you?
July 9, 2013 7:38 pm
An impressive share! I've just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me dinner simply because I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this matter here on your site.
john permalinkJuly 20, 2013 12:23 pm
Athos Healthcare refused to pay me the correct expensives for turning up for a medical because it seems that if you are disable you are treated like dirt by this Company. In the end they admitted mistake after mistake but they still refused to pay me any money.
Are they allowed to do this.
David permalinkJuly 20, 2013 12:32 pm
An Athos Doctor examined me and told me that I was fit for work, however a Consultant examined and carried out a detailed 35 page report saying that I would never work again. I complained on two occasions to the DWP but they ruled that there Doctor was correct, thus overuling a Constant, it appears that it is a waste of time complaining because if you are Disable the result is a fix. The DWP never overule there own Doctors. Just make a formal complaint to the General Medical Council about ATHOS DOCTORS if you think they have made a mistake, as you have a better chance of getting the truth.
sid permalinkJuly 20, 2013 12:38 pm
Are Athos Healthcare allowed to get away not paying Disable people traveling to medicals at there centres, it is discrimation, the Chairman of Athos Healthcare should be sacked.
Dave mee permalinkJuly 22, 2013 8:17 am
ATOS Healthcare [ that's a joke in its self ] are a law unto themselves they do and seem to be able to do what ever they please I lodged a formal complaint with them of cause in the end I was wrong they were right so took it up the food chain as high as I could only to get same answer only this time the had information on my medication that I had never told them about as I had started taking it after my examination when I brought this up I got "Are we will look into this and let you know" well after 3 months I`m still waiting By god they are bad at making up lies..
sid permalinkJuly 26, 2013 6:28 am
Athos Healthcare have now gone to a very low level they now have failed to pay a Disable person for attending a medical, they have refused to pay the correct amount.
It appears if you are Disable you are treated like dirt by this Company.
fred permalinkJuly 26, 2013 6:30 am
I have just read the report how Athos treat Disable people by not paying them any traveling allowances to attend a medical, this is discrimation and the Chairan of Athos should resign.
July 26, 2013 6:34 am
I hope the Disable Minister Esther Mcvey reads these reports where ATHOS HEALTHCARE do not pay Disable people traveling allowances to medicals, it is disgraceful.
This Company should not be allowed to get away with it, report them them to the Court of Human rights.
July 26, 2013 6:39 am
I feel sorry for the Doctors of Athos Healthcare they are out of there depth when they examine you, they are not allowed to see any of your medical records, so when they make a decision they are usually wrong. But the problem is the DWP back them up, even if you have detailed medical reports from your own Doctor or Consultants, informing them you will not work again. Its like professial wrestling its a fix, you will not win a decision, the Government always wins.
August 2, 2013 1:00 pm
I have actually had sucess in defeating the system. After 14 months of fighting them my Consultant wrote a letter spelling out clearly my disability and the consequences for me if I was forced to return to work. This re-appeal has gone in my favour and I have gone from appeal status to being placed in the support group. So it is not necessarily true that they will not heed to comments of real health professionals. Some GP's are refusing help citing a conflict of interest. In other words, they won't do it because they are not getting a fee. So try your consultant you never know.
Fergus McFeagle permalinkAugust 17, 2013 3:10 am
Its time we abandoned our victim mentality and squared up to the fact that Atos are in fact truly afraid of us.
I was forced to attend an Atos interview this week and successfully managed to make the 'professional' conducting the interview terminate the meeting and literally flee from the room.This sad excuse for a health professional had commenced the interview in a openly rude and provocative manner which I assume was a half-assed attempt to impress upon me his ultimate power of life and death over my situation and to make clear that I was completely powerlessness and not even a human being at all-that he viewed me as something more akin to an object.
Dream on sunshine,I am really going to take all of your nonsense on board.
Should you find yourself unfortunate enough to be summoned to attend one of these wholesale assaults upon human dignity, do ensure you take someone along to the interview with you who is able to quietly witness and record a transcript of the proceedings. I cant stress this point enough.
Demand to see personal identification and proof of qualification from the interviewer.
They likely have already demanded to see your personal identification before the interview commences,so dont be afraid to request the same from them-It serves to remind them of apparent vulnerabilities inherent within their role as inquisitors-Vulnerabilities they are all painfully aware of and terrified by.
It does not sit comfortably with them that we are aware they too have names and addresses.
The majority of interviewers these days are usually a gaggle of low-grade nurses of some description-and a blight upon their profession to boot-not doctors or even qualified occupational therapists,they are thus effectively ill-prepared to render any kind of realistic medical assessment of what usually tend to be complex issues,so most importantly,dont be afraid to reflect this point back to them,that is; that you have no faith whatsoever in their ability to conduct a satisfactory interview and because of this,they will not be permitted to carry out any physical examination on you.
So,having followed through with this loose strategem of gently goading the interviewer,who in my case,chose to respond by way of descending into a tirade of undisguised verbal bullying.
We allowed him to explore his own feelings of powerlessness in this quaintly absurd manner for about five minutes before completely upping the pressure,by making it clear to him that we had been recording the interview from the moment he had entered the room. The guy then proceeded to go into a blind panic and tried to impress upon us that Atos does not allow interviewees to record or make a transcript as it might find its way on to Youtube and that we had to erase the recording.
I asked him if he felt that maybe the nature of what he was doing could be construed as being grossly incompetent or immoral in some way and did he feel ashamed of his role as an employee of Atos? And was this the assessment he feared viewers of a Youtube video might make regarding the manner he was conducting this interview?
He then proceeded to completely lose it with both of us and demanded we ceased to record the interview. We refused to comply and requested that he made clear to us any policies Atos might hold regarding this matter,he then degenerated into blubbering and throwing out complete obfustications so I then demanded in turn he made clear to us as to whether we were legally allowed to record or not-that a simple yes or no reply would suffice. He refused to comment on this matter angrily and stated that the interview was now terminated,that he would not be personally conducting any subsequent interview with me again and that they would have to bring someone in to record the interview and give me a C.D. copy to take away for my own purposes..
This,I was told might take some time to arrange.
And that suits me fine.
The game rolls on…..
I sort of figure that if enough people were sufficiently firm over exercising their inalienable rights as human beings around these traitors to humanity, just by simply making it clear that any abuse or bullying they might choose to engage in will not remain in any way secret,but will in fact go very public,it just might go a long way to impairing Atos' ability to function effectively and even,if enough pressure was applied,force even more defections from within their ranks.
Record everything.
Believe me-They fear exposure.They fear us.
I am aware that Atos staff ratios have currently plummeted down to practically nothing over the past year,hence the endless cancellations of interview dates-I had received 4 seperate cancellation letters over three months prior to the interview I was eventually forced to attend.
Be reassured also that these invertebrate cretins who still have the gall to occupy these obnoxious roles really do have their workload cut out right now and are having to service multiple locations across the country in the course of their working week-In short their minions are spread thinly upon the ground and are completely overworked and stressed.
Lets not make their job any easier for them and make sure we up those stress levels!.
This is war.
We might be disabled but we're far from stupid nor are we without power.
November 18, 2013 10:47 pm
Hi Fergus, I have been called in for an exam with atos in dec, I am terrified, i am bi polar and suffer with anxiety as well as having a crushed disc in my spine, i want a home visit as i cant cope with travelling as i cant sit up or stand, i am on liquid morphine, mst morphine tablets, pregabalin and am on anti depressants, do you think i would qualify for a home visit ?
August 17, 2013 8:11 am
Good to hear someone who can stand up to them because they have the power to sanction benefits they think they are gods. I have been waiting since Oct. 12 to get a recorded home visit. The excuse not enough Drs. trained to use recording equipment. I will also be covertly videoing the visit and will tell them after the event.
August 25, 2013 9:14 pm
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September 6, 2013 5:44 am
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allan permalinkSeptember 16, 2013 12:43 pm
I have absolutely no faith or confidence in Atos having herd so much bad publicity about this company before I was to appear before them I now can see why Atos is so unpopular. I have recently diagnosed with a severe lung decease which effects both my lungs and now prevents me from working any more, my doctor the specialist at the hospital who performed my lung biopsy and my company doctor all agree I am not fit for work, however ATOS DISSAGREES even though Atos a banded my examination due to the fact I could not continue due to ill health, they now inform me I am fit enough to do a desk job even though I am 58 and have had no experience in such work. How can this company ignore the evidence in front of them and make such a stupid judgment
September 16, 2013 1:03 pm
Because their uncaring money grabbing wasters
September 17, 2013 7:30 am
My understanding is yes. ATOS get £100 for every assessment and £360 for each person removed from benefit.[ I may be wrong]
October 27, 2013 1:55 pm
I have again been asked to attend to Atos assessment last year they found me fit for work and had to appeal to get my E.S.A. I am nearly 62 any advice please?
October 27, 2013 2:37 pm
Anthony have you thought about Pension Credit I am 62 and have got it though I am also getting I.B so not out of ATOSs clutches. Got my third assessment at home after 2 aborted assessments, second one due to recorder not working. I could sign off I.B and lose £20 a week but Im doing it to be bloody minded. Im prepared to go to tribunal if needed just to mess them around
Bill permalinkFebruary 21, 2014 2:09 pm
To be fair most British recruitment agencies shy away from recruiting for ATOS for obvious reasons. How ever step forward SJB based in London and run by a couple of 'Headhunters' who pretty much only work for ATOS but boy have these Cockney chaps made a lot of money from recruiting medical staff to man the ATOS assessment centres.
ATOS is just a company, it exists to make a profit, but British people such as the owners of SJB who have become rich out of the misery of their fellow Brits is a bit sickening
March 30, 2014 11:25 pm
It's going to be ending of mine day, however before end I am reading this impressive post to increase my knowledge.
March 31, 2014 7:37 pm
I was diagnosed back in '98 with Hypertension, Angina, Type 2 Diabetes. Since then I have developed Peripheral neuropathy, Focal neuropathy, Motor Neuropathy, with all the problems that are typical of these variations of the theme. I have been blind for over an hour, due to a minor stroke, and over the past several weeks the neuropathic pain in my right leg has gone off the scale, the result being that I can't sleep in a bed because of the pain, and must sleep in an armchair because of the pain and sleep apnoea when I lay down. Now I need my two sons to haul me out of the chair, I'm a big man 6′ 8″ tall and 26.5 stones. To get me to the toilet or shower they put me on a chair and half drag/carry me there. They do everything for me that I can't do for myself. At the present time I am awaiting the DWP hitman, I know what to expect having fallen victim to an unethical and false diagnosis back in 2003. I waited exactly one year to the day to get to a tribunal and won the higher rate thanks to the impartial ethically honest letter from my GP. From that time my recipt of benefits was labeled indefinite, but since Cameron and the rich kids on the block came on the scene, the plot to put the boot in the disabled was hatched. It's no secret that Cameron & Co are the godfathers behind this tyrannical plot to defraud even the genuinely disabled, they and the DWP hiding behind the Medical Professional Hitmen/Hitwomen who have only one intention, top write an unethical report that provides the so called decision makers with an excuse to cut or deny benefits to genuinely disabled people. Fraud is a crime regardless of who commits the offense, so perhaps it's time the police were involved and investigate why there were glaring differences between the GP's and Specialist diagnosis and those Medical Professionals for whom the Hippocratic Oath is only a god dammed piece of paper! In conclusion, I have no doubt that in the near future my GP's and Specialist records will be cast into the trash can by some eager, unconscionable decision maker. And that I, a man with chronic conditions that will eventually kill me, will, be told that I'm fit for work or will be expected to survive on cut benefits, a prisoner in my own home for a year as I await a date for the tribunal, unless they make me homeless before judgement day comes.
May 17, 2014 6:36 pm
atos is aptly named, because they DONT give atoss
May 27, 2014 4:52 am
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June 17, 2014 11:12 pm
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June 22, 2014 9:22 am
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June 22, 2014 9:40 am
Not all people are overweight through eating. I am diabetic and when an infection stopped my insulin working I was switched to 2 different types and was warned my weight would increase no amount of exercise or dieting works. My G.P cant put me on a weight reducing drug as it causes renal failure which I already have so its grin and bear it which I hate
August 20, 2014 11:37 am
I dont see why my son has to have a atos medical for esa he has a heart condition and he has a heart monitor fitted under his skin he also has adhd cant take the tablets because of his heart condition he has server behavior problems he as asma and a iron deficiency and other problems please help should he have to go
Dave Mee permalinkAugust 20, 2014 2:16 pm
I`m setting up for round two with these "wankers" my health has gone down since was last seen by them that the Training cause I was put on to get me back to work have given up say I`m not fit enough to tackle any work so they advised me the appeal the ruling so we await the call to attend a medical but for sure they ain`t getting away with issuing a lie filled report this time I`m taking at least one recorder with me.. Thing is I heard and read they had been Booted Off cause all the "Cock-up`s" the have made and the number of over turned tribunal hearing?? There`s another thing when I attended that the one heading it asked if I had thought of the use of a wheel chair to get round now if they could see problem why not this lot simple answer they were more interested in getting the bonus that week to keep the numbers up.. God bless ATOS and all who sink in her…..
September 21, 2014 12:30 am
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October 10, 2014 4:21 pm
Hi i have so many physical and mental health problems and i sent 70 pages of evidence to atos , now they are asking me to go so they can asses me , i have spoke to one of my consultants and they wrote to atos saying that i am unfit for an interviwe let alone work , the question is will atos stop my benefit because of this? or will i still have to go to the appointment even though my consultant says not to on the letter can you please give me some advise?
October 10, 2014 5:48 pm
ATOS cant stop your benefit only the
DWP can though we all know ATOS advise. Wait until you get a reply from ATOS if your notes are persuasive ATOS may deal with you with just the evidence supplied if it goes back to DWP you ask for Mandatory Reconsideration. If you do go to a Face to Face make sure you get it recorded
Dave Mee permalinkOctober 12, 2014 8:15 am
I think not sure you can ask them to make a ""Home Visit"" although from what I`ve heard it takes some hard work to get them to agree and they tend to be worse when they come out then when they are at there place..From what I know if you don`t turn up they report back to W&P and I think they can stop your money just another way to get us all off benefits..
If it was me try to get there even if you have to take helpers just tell them you need them with you all the time.. BUT KEEP FIGHTING THE BASTARDS that`s what I`m doing .
Hope this helps and good luck.. Dave
October 12, 2014 8:36 am
A home visit can be got if your Doctor faxes a request, if you do get one make sure you have a witness and record it don't tell the HCP or the assessment will be aborted and you will be classed as refusing. I have had 3 home visits all video recorded all aborted . I have been placed in S.G with no face to face. You have to fight them
chris walker permalinkOctober 31, 2014 10:06 am
The term farce is mean to be funny,but when it starts to attack the vulnerable in the country then this is not a funny thing. Something productive must happen & it has to achieved through action & not mere words. People like Iain Duncan Smith have to be made to see the lives they are destroying.The fact there are laws preventing certain people from attaining work.They are part of the fabric of our country.The Tories have been out of office for so long that they have lost touch with the public. They are still in the Thatcher era & she was a mad child molester,hardly a role model for the future & with all the abuse cases in parliament already it is hardly the way to press forward. I cannot express my anger to any one who could do that to a child,there is no word in the English language that I could adequately show my contempt for this crime.They are all as bad as each other & if this is a fairer Britain I'd like to see their interpretation of an unfair system.
StevEH permalinkJanuary 24, 2015 3:07 pm
Peter permalinkMarch 19, 2015 3:50 pm
The same stance is needed against new benefit removal experts, Maximus: same as Atos in all but name.
gerald day permalinkNovember 30, 2015 5:36 pm
I have suffered from chronic mechanical back problems from the age of 15 so bad was the pain i had to sleep om a board for 9 months . i was a footballer on SOUTHAMPTONS books at that time but was never able to get to that standard of fitness again . although i was able to play at ALDERSHOT and READING level lower league. i broke my pelvis in a tackle and twisted all my vertabrae out of shape aged 17 . again i recovered and was able to play . but never again pain free.
WELL over the pasages of time i have had back pain all day and night .
it escalated so bad that my doctor said i could never have work a normal job . i played at good non league and took a job running a despatch department for PENGUIN BOOKS. well the lifting was heavy and i didnt do myself any favours later in life . afer 7 years there i had to quit as i wasnt physically up to it anymore.
I was signed off by my doctor and was diagnosed as being unfit for work by an incapacity doctor. in 13 years ive seen seven of them . only once failing which i won by tribuneral.
JUST recently i failed again . the medical was irelevant to my real problems and i was passed fit. i was shocked to be honest as i have a poor walking gate diabetes . a dislocated shoulder which never mended properly . high blood presure . i cant twist and bend my back . my groins given me trouble for 7 months a broken bone on top of my foot which healed badly . apart from that im fit . ok most are old football injuries but there obvious.
i have seen two of the worlds best back specialists they said im inoperable. i know there are people far worse than i am . but what sort of mickey mouse outfit overules surgeons proper doctors and exrays. they dont lie . as someone nearly 60 now . i just cant get a grasp of any of this . ive been in pain since the age of 15 and yes a lot self inflicted but there medical sucks . GOOD LUCK TO THOSE WITH TRIBUNERALS i fear thats where im heading again
Liz Hornby permalinkJanuary 14, 2017 7:21 pm
How can I put in a complaint about the assesser lieing I had my assessment done and the woman I saw lied about things in my statement and this is happening to other people.I was on esa they took me of it and put me on jsa I have had my mandatory reconsideration today they said no I can't have it so I am taking this to court but how do all these people in the same situation go about making compliant about the assesser
Andy permalinkJanuary 15, 2017 5:08 pm
Hi Liz. Sorry to hear of your worries with the ESA/WCA fiasco that Labour started and the Tories have made much worse. They (Maximus) have a complaints procedure and if not happy with that then you can refer to ICE (independent Case Examiner). I still have an unresolved complaint from 2 years ago. It's best complaining to the DWP, NOT Maximus because believe it or not they don't have a duty of care to you – only to the DWP who awarded them the £595 million contract in October 2014. The contract is due for renewal in March 2018 so it's a good idea to ramp up complaints now and maybe they will lose the contract. They have the same staff who worked for Atos. The one who will reply to you is Brian Pepper or Christine Hughes – both useless cunts. Ms Hughes is a particularly nasty cow (no offence to cows). My advice is get your MP involved, do you know who they are? If not, give me the name of the town you live in and I will find it for you.
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