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Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

I've been making notes, in a word doc, of everything that's happened since all this began - every letter and phone call I've received, every phone call I've had to make and stuff I've had to post. So far it's been 6 weeks since the so-called assessment, and already I'm up to page 4, even though my notes are very brief. I suspect it'll end up being a very long word doc.
 
ViolentPanda said:
You realise that there's a 90% chance that the "medical professional" will refuse to conduct the "examination" though, don't you (they're yellower than a piss stain on porcelain)? :(

If that's the case, please do/get your bro or s-i-l to do the following things:

1) Phone up the number on the letter giving you the time/date of your test
2) Speak to someone and inform them that the "medical professional" refused to conduct the test, and give them the reason(s) (i.e. you dared to have a witness there who was incidentally a doctor).
3) Get the name, or the christian name and desk number of the person you speak to, and make a note of it.

In case you're wondering why, it's so that if (when?) the "medical professional" tells any big fat lies (they're very good at this, even the ones who've taken the Hippocratic oath), you have some proof besides your own word and the words of your witnesses, which they will not take heed of, believe the voice of experience!

Good luck, mon ami!
Click to expand...

Can you use a voice recorder? What are the legalities of that if you of course tell them that you are going to record them (and even maybe if not)?
 
ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
Can you use a voice recorder? What are the legalities of that if you of course tell them that you are going to record them (and even maybe if not)?
Click to expand...

They have objections to recording which are spurious, but which they attempt to enforce by informing you that you'l have to pay to have your equipment properly calibrated or some such bollocks. Legally, there's a consent issue (the individual has to consent to be recorded. Surreptitious recording can't be used as evidence at tribunal) that they also use, but which I believe can be set aside with a well-placed "if the medical professional has nothing to hide, then what have they got to fear?".
 
ViolentPanda said:
They have objections to recording which are spurious, but which they attempt to enforce by informing you that you'l have to pay to have your equipment properly calibrated or some such bollocks. Legally, there's a consent issue (the individual has to consent to be recorded. Surreptitious recording can't be used as evidence at tribunal) that they also use, but which I believe can be set aside with a well-placed "if the medical professional has nothing to hide, then what have they got to fear?".
Click to expand...

Yes surely you can just say, "I would just like to record you so that your final findings corroborate with what is said here today should I need to see a solicitor. As for being correctly calibrated you could ask the interviewer at the beginning of the recording to tell them the exact time and do so also at the end, so that nothing could be seen to be edited out or in. Even better, use a video camera.

Why or how could they legally object? I can't speak to someone to book tickets on an airline or talk to the tax office without agreeing to be recorded.
 
ATOMIC SUPLEX said:
Yes surely you can just say, "I would just like to record you so that your final findings corroborate with what is said here today should I need to see a solicitor. As for being correctly calibrated you could ask the interviewer at the beginning of the recording to tell them the exact time and do so also at the end, so that nothing could be seen to be edited out or in. Even better, use a video camera.

Why or how could they legally object? I can't speak to someone to book tickets on an airline or talk to the tax office without agreeing to be recorded.
Click to expand...

When I've had visits from "examining medical practitioners" (EMPs) with regard to renewing my Disability Living Allowance, I've always asked whether I can record the interview on audio-tape, and it's always been granted, but those have been doctors visiting me. These Atos people are merely "medical professionals". In other words, they may be doctors, but they could equally be nurses or physios, who tend to be a bit more insecure about the state of their knowledge, and more likely to regard a request to record them as combative or insulting.

As for legal objection, your acquiescence to being recorded is implicit as soon as you continue the phonecall after being told that "this call may be recorded for blah blah blah purposes". You have no choice but to acquiesce if you wish to conduct business with them. That's not the case for an individual tasked to examine you. They have the right to consent to recording or not (unfortunately), and we (the ones getting interviewed) don't have any leverage that can render things differently.
 
You have to have a sync-dual recorder of a particular type (??) which they apparently supply (??again) and it has to be "calibrated" , thus I think a no-no for a home visit, which I shall require.
I do have an old Teak Studio Dual cassette, but that (although v good quality) is not acceptable.
Nor will they go for "but I can can operate a 16 channel desk".
I will record it without them knowing, to check notes taken.
 
ATOS RECORDING NEWS!
I just spoke to ATOS (18 mins of 'your call is important to us' :mad: )
I was wanting to know about them coming to me.
Then I asked about what the situation was if I wished to record the assessment interview.
Well goodness me, all has changed :)
When I'm contacted re my home visit I just ask for it to be recorded. They will arrive with a recorder that will make three copies. One for me, one for them and one for DWP!
There is no charge for this service.
I don't know about when you go to them, but I think that you would just have to request in advance.
I'm amazed.
 
yardbird said:
ATOS RECORDING NEWS!
I just spoke to ATOS (18 mins of 'your call is important to us' :mad: )
I was wanting to know about them coming to me.
Then I asked about what the situation was if I wished to record the assessment interview.
Well goodness me, all has changed :)
When I'm contacted re my home visit I just ask for it to be recorded. They will arrive with a recorder that will make three copies. One for me, one for them and one for DWP!
There is no charge for this service.
I don't know about when you go to them, but I think that you would just have to request in advance.
I'm amazed.
Click to expand...
Wow! I wonder what's prompted the change?

Well done Yardbird :)
 
ViolentPanda said:
Surreptitious recording can't be used as evidence at tribunal
Click to expand...
Well the tribunal is getting a transcript of my recording wether they like it or not. :)

Mind, McMillan nurses and charities concerned with strokes and altzheimers all recommend the use of tape recordings if you suffer memory loss (wether caused by brain damage or by distraction i.e. pain). As this tape recording is for personal use it doesn't need to meet ATOS' criteria and I believe you don't need to get the permission of anyone who gets recorded in the process. ;)

As it's used as an aide a memoire the tribunal are going to get to 'hear' extracts from it anyway. :D
 
Important ATOS recording update.

I have spoken at length today and can confirm that if you request to have your assessment recorded then they will do it.
YOU HAVE TO REQUEST IT
This is for home visits and if you go to them as well.
I have been told this clearly and on two occasions now.
DEMAND IT 'cos they sure as shit won't offer it.
If anyone wants it, this number gets you thu to ATOS:
0800 2888777
Where you can get conformation of what I've posted.
I would strongly advise anyone awaiting an assessment to do this.
If they say they can't do it then refer them to HO and DEMAND IT !!
 
yardbird said:
Important ATOS recording update.

I have spoken at length today and can confirm that if you request to have your assessment recorded then they will do it.
YOU HAVE TO REQUEST IT
This is for home visits and if you go to them as well.
I have been told this clearly and on two occasions now.
DEMAND IT 'cos they sure as shit won't offer it.
If anyone wants it, this number gets you thu to ATOS:
0800 2888777
Where you can get conformation of what I've posted.
I would strongly advise anyone awaiting an assessment to do this.
If they say they can't do it then refer them to HO and DEMAND IT !!
Click to expand...

Great info yardbird, thanks for finding that out :)

Nice one.
 
Hello everyone.

Yesterday I got a thickish brown envelope, and immediately thought, "Oh, it'll be the documents they're supposed to be sending me, about my appeal".

Nope. It was another copy of my medical assessment, with no covering letter to explain why they were sending it.

Sigh.
 
When I had an Assessment some time ago. The ATOS guy told me in no uncertain terms that I was not allowed to make notes of the Interview/Process.
My Strategy then would be to use my FIRE Professional Recorder App on my Iphone 3GS to secretly record the Interview! I have no idea how this idea sounds to my new pals at U75 (subject to normal rules of sussing out, lurking etc).
 
yardbird said:
Kate H
The ATOS said you couldn't take notes?
He should be locked up - that has never been so!

Welcome :)
Click to expand...
Agreed, I've always been allowed to take notes. And IMHO allowing notes and/or recording is fair when the person being given the medical may be too anxious or confused to clearly rememeber what happened.
 
A few days ago I got this year's Council Tax bill, and they want 10p for the whole year (although my income has dropped by around 30%).

Then a day or so later I got two letters from Housing (I'm a Council tenant). The first one said that from the beginning of April I need to pay rent of 1p per week. The second letter was exactly the same.

So they've already spent more than my annual rent and CT combined, just by sending the letters.
 
culder said:
A few days ago I got this year's Council Tax bill, and they want 10p for the whole year (although my income has dropped by around 30%).

Then a day or so later I got two letters from Housing (I'm a Council tenant). The first one said that from the beginning of April I need to pay rent of 1p per week. The second letter was exactly the same.

So they've already spent more than my annual rent and CT combined, just by sending the letters.
Click to expand...
I never understand why the same department sends the same letter out more than once, or worse, why they send two or more letters all saying different things.

Good news about the bills though :)
 
The councils welfare rights department can't provide advocacy to support people at tribunal hearings I've been informed. The only option available is to have copy of papers from the tribunal service sent to their offices, who will, after reading the documentation, offer advice, usually over the phone and that's it.
 
Hm - they've told me they'll set up a meeting with me once I've got those documents, audiotech.

EG - Not really good news about those bills - normally I pay zero!
 
yardbird said:
Kate H
The ATOS said you couldn't take notes?
He should be locked up - that has never been so!

Welcome :)
Click to expand...
When my sister accompanied a friend to an ATOS assessment and took out a notepad the nurse went ballistic. Demanding a copy of whatever my sister wrote. :eek:
 
culder said:
A few days ago I got this year's Council Tax bill, and they want 10p for the whole year (although my income has dropped by around 30%).

Then a day or so later I got two letters from Housing (I'm a Council tenant). The first one said that from the beginning of April I need to pay rent of 1p per week. The second letter was exactly the same.

So they've already spent more than my annual rent and CT combined, just by sending the letters.
Click to expand...
Write back and ask them to remind you when you owe them a tenner. They'll have forgotten by then. :)
 
culder said:
Hm - they've told me they'll set up a meeting with me once I've got those documents, audiotech.

EG - Not really good news about those bills - normally I pay zero!
Click to expand...
True - but at least it's only nominal amounts rather than pounds and pounds.
 
culder said:
Hm - they've told me they'll set up a meeting with me once I've got those documents, audiotech.
Click to expand...

I suppose it will vary from area to area, but where I am it appears they're overwhelmed. The person I spoke to was sympathetic, but unable to affect what is. I might manage to arrange a home visit, but for the tribunal It looks as though I'm on my own. This for the second time, with no representation. Although it annoys me that basic provision is not there to give much in the way of support, as an individual up against the machine that is the DWP, this is not something I've not experienced before. Fairness? Do me a favour. The whole system is stacked against ordinary people, who've very little and don't really want very much. Meanwhile, Osbourne is flagging cutting the 50p tax rate in the forthcoming budget and refusing to countenance a wealth tax on those with over a £1 million pound property's. Hypocrits like Geldoff, avoiding stamp duty, registering their multiple property's in favourable tax havens I hold in particular contempt. 'Send us your fooking money' to coin a phrase.
 
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