Have you spoken to your GP?
Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support
- Thread starter Zabo
- Start date
Have you spoken to your GP?
audiotech
wav, aiff, mp3, ogg, flac
The letter my GP wrote in support couldn't be more clearer to whoever made this decision and anyway I'm not inclined to bother my GP anymore than I have to. I'm going to ring Atos tomorrow, now I've calmed down a bit and also research what my options are. I'll try 'welfare rights' too, but I don't expect much from them. If in the meantime anyone has further advice they can offer I would be grateful.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Are there any advocate services in your area that could help?
I find it astounding that Atos think they know better than experienced qualified medical professionals. How dare they decide that you should travel rather than have your assessment at home
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
I'd be asking them exactly whose authority at ATOS is deemed to overrule your general practitioner, and then demand to:
a) speak with that person, and
b) demand they perssnally indemnify you for any health issues that arise from their forcing you to attend.
They won't back down, or are at least unlikely to, but you can then, after the event demand copies of any records they hold on you under the FoI Act, et voila, you have some semblance of evidence of unreasonable behaviour on their part that you can present to...well, the media, a tribunal if you're forced to go that route, etc.
Of course, this is predicated on you remaining calm, collected and humble at all times, but most of us can manage that if it means a bit of schadenfreude further up the road.
savoloysam
Pigman's pigman's ha ha charade you are..
I have one of these coming up, it's not for disability but because I'm signed off work at moment with stress and depression, alot of it actually related to my work. What can i expect, any underhand tactics I should be looking out for?
audiotech
wav, aiff, mp3, ogg, flac
I bet it's a trap. If you turn up you're clearly not as disabled as you claim.
My thoughts entirely. They are clearly not doing this for my welfare. Oh, hang on a minute that is exactly what they are doing it for. In this case to reduce my welfare payments.
audiotech
wav, aiff, mp3, ogg, flac
I'd be asking them exactly whose authority at ATOS is deemed to overrule your general practitioner, and then demand to:
a) speak with that person, and
b) demand they perssnally indemnify you for any health issues that arise from their forcing you to attend.
They won't back down, or are at least unlikely to, but you can then, after the event demand copies of any records they hold on you under the FoI Act, et voila, you have some semblance of evidence of unreasonable behaviour on their part that you can present to...well, the media, a tribunal if you're forced to go that route, etc.
Of course, this is predicated on you remaining calm, collected and humble at all times, but most of us can manage that if it means a bit of schadenfreude further up the road.
After demanding to know who had made this decision, declined, and also demanding what level of medical qualification this "practioner" had that made the person more qualified to overule a letter in support from my GP, also declined, I then requested that this information be confirmed and sent to me in writing. I was told to contact customer services. I then asked if they were prepared to accept any responsibility of what would happen next? At this point they suggested that my appointment be put forward to a later date. I informed them that that would be acceptable for the moment and give me time to speak to my GP......
Thanks VP.
' http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/apr/06/carers-versus-atos-image-video'
Guardian video by big player Jon Ronson, lights arev now being shone into some very dark places...
Guardian video by big player Jon Ronson, lights arev now being shone into some very dark places...
audiotech
wav, aiff, mp3, ogg, flac
This is obvious, but I'll say it anyway, think before you answer a question, particularly with regards to what you do in your leisure time. The government and other agency's hold to the notion that being out of work is a contributing factor to depression. What they seem unable, or deliberately to not take into account is that work can be a factor leading to depression. All that aside is the fact that their goal is to turf around 700,000 people off disability benefits and into the labour market. Gideon Osbourne is wanting to cut £10 billion from the welfare budget afterall.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Found this link from the comments underneath. Not sure if it's been posted up already, but apologies if it has. Comments from French Atos staff
http://socialwelfareadvocacy.weebly.com/2/post/2012/03/french-atos-staff-speak-out.html
spartacus mills
let's wee on each other
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
Bumping this so anyone new coming to the thread sees it.
Mebbe it should be regularly bumped to keep it receiving attention"
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
It's a sticky thread so should always be at the top of the forum.
il_bastardo
meh
Paul Farmer (chief executive of Mind) has just resigned from the government advisory panel for work assessments, to publicise his anger at an 'inhumane system' that is telling severely ill and disabled they are fit to work. The government aren't listening to them (or anyone else) about the flaws of ATOS. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/10/charity-chief-quits-over-fit-for-work-test
il_bastardo
meh
yardbird said: ↑
Yes, it's true. Here's a source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/24/atos-faces-critical-report-by-mps
During the work and pensions select committee hearings earlier this summer, MPs asked if Atos was penalised financially for inaccuracy. The company said it was paid per assessment, with no sanction if the decision was overturned on appeal. Anne Begg, Labour chair of the committee, responded: "That adds to the suspicion that you are a private company, you are driven by a profit motive, and the incentive is to get the assessments done, but not necessarily to get the assessments right."
To the best of my knowledge ATOS get paid for each person that their assessment turns down, but they don't have to pay anything back if their assessment is overturned on appeal.
That seems nuts to me, I wonder who made the deal?
Is this true? I've only heard it as a rumour before, never seen it confirmed. Any sources?That seems nuts to me, I wonder who made the deal?
Yes, it's true. Here's a source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/24/atos-faces-critical-report-by-mps
During the work and pensions select committee hearings earlier this summer, MPs asked if Atos was penalised financially for inaccuracy. The company said it was paid per assessment, with no sanction if the decision was overturned on appeal. Anne Begg, Labour chair of the committee, responded: "That adds to the suspicion that you are a private company, you are driven by a profit motive, and the incentive is to get the assessments done, but not necessarily to get the assessments right."
il_bastardo
meh
FWIW, given our government [and other current international powers] want to abolish the Human Rights Act anyway......Apologies if this was already posted:
In Geneva today [2/4/12], Dr Pauline Nolan, Policy Officer for Inclusion Scotland, will submit evidence to a preliminary hearing ahead of a planned review of the human rights record of 14 states, including the UK.
Dr Nolan will warn the cumulative impact of welfare reform and cuts to benefits affecting disabled people will mean their ability to live a full life is impaired. In particular, she will argue that welfare changes undermine their right to be included in the community.
The campaign also claims disabled people are being denied access to justice when they try to appeal against these cuts to their benefits.
and heres a shocking statistic.....
"The combined voices of disabled people have either been silenced or misrepresented by the UK Government in their resolution to make disabled people suffer over 50% of the total £18bn in benefit cuts."
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...ing-human-rights-of-disabled-un-told.17186941
In Geneva today [2/4/12], Dr Pauline Nolan, Policy Officer for Inclusion Scotland, will submit evidence to a preliminary hearing ahead of a planned review of the human rights record of 14 states, including the UK.
Dr Nolan will warn the cumulative impact of welfare reform and cuts to benefits affecting disabled people will mean their ability to live a full life is impaired. In particular, she will argue that welfare changes undermine their right to be included in the community.
The campaign also claims disabled people are being denied access to justice when they try to appeal against these cuts to their benefits.
and heres a shocking statistic.....
"The combined voices of disabled people have either been silenced or misrepresented by the UK Government in their resolution to make disabled people suffer over 50% of the total £18bn in benefit cuts."
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...ing-human-rights-of-disabled-un-told.17186941
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Thanks il-bastardo, very interesting. Shocking statistic too 
toggle
wobbly
if they are being paid to give a reason to take people off benefits, then surely the incentive is to get them wrong.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Well, they'd say they're being paid to do the assessments, rather than "get people off benefits" and that that is exactly what they're doing, very badly.
The fact that ATOS can barely be penalised for poor performance (and their performance is worse than SchlumbergerSema's was when they originally held the contract before the ATOSsers bought them up) does give a fairly accurate signal of the govt's position with reference to people with disabilities and illnesses getting fucked over, though.
toggle
wobbly
gvt want people off benefits, therefore an assessor that is emoving people is more likely to winfavour and more contracts for doing so. with no clawback for getting it wrong, then there's an incentive to get peoplelabelled fit for work.
and the government get to say that a large number of people \re being found fit for work, ergo they were scroungers. fits in with the demonise the disabled campaigns
and the government get to say that a large number of people \re being found fit for work, ergo they were scroungers. fits in with the demonise the disabled campaigns
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Sure, but look at it this way - why leave hostages to fortune in the shape of having a company policy (tacit though it would have to be) to toe the government line in order to garner further contracts, when all one has to do is exactly what ATOS were allowed to do: Downgrade the qualifications of the person performing the assessment, so that they no longer need to be a qualified physician, they merely have to be a "medical professional", a nurse, physio or the like who claim to have "some" experience of dealing with/treating people with long-term sickness and/or disability?
That does the same thing, but without any cloak and daggerage or need for incentives beyond a nod and a wink at the right time, and without any risk to either the government or to ATOS, just to the people they're fucking over.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
One of my former colleagues now works for Atos
Was on the phone to ATOS again yesterday (I'm getting used to this) and have found out more about the recording business - more than slightly chaotic.
When you call the 0800 number, it's free obviously, but when the people you need to speak to are "customer relations" then it's an area code number 0113 2309175 which of course is chargeable.
This number does not have stacking, you just get engaged and an offer of call-back.
Don't think that they want you to speak to customer relations!
Bye the bye, when I asked the 0800 about having someone there, my SIL - yes of course. Then I said she was a doctor. There was a gulp and a stutter
When you call the 0800 number, it's free obviously, but when the people you need to speak to are "customer relations" then it's an area code number 0113 2309175 which of course is chargeable.
This number does not have stacking, you just get engaged and an offer of call-back.
Don't think that they want you to speak to customer relations!
Bye the bye, when I asked the 0800 about having someone there, my SIL - yes of course. Then I said she was a doctor. There was a gulp and a stutter
Oh how my heart bleeds for the person who turns up <VEG><snip>Bye the bye, when I asked the 0800 about having someone there, my SIL - yes of course. Then I said she was a doctor. There was a gulp and a stutter
Assessors have been told that they have to ask questions directly and not do the sneaky bit of "do/did you watch East Enders" and then mark down that you can sit for half an hour.
Like in Bladerunner with the Voicecom test at the beginning if you get offhand questions at the start, then ask if the test has started.
Oh yeah, the person on the 0800 number said that I clearly new more about some things than he did - bit worrying that.
Like in Bladerunner with the Voicecom test at the beginning if you get offhand questions at the start, then ask if the test has started.
Oh yeah, the person on the 0800 number said that I clearly new more about some things than he did - bit worrying that.
I got signed off until February and after making, and then rescheduling, an appointment for me in a city I haven't lived in since January (despite their having my new address on record) I finally managed to get the right phone number to arrange an appointment on the right side of the country. Which they've now rearranged again. Eejits 
Similar threads
- Poll
