Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[audiotech]

Despite the impression given, even Grayling has a conscience and when he's alone in the dark pondering those figures it will be pricked, given the proviso that he's not a psychopath. Grayling did look rattled to me trying to defend his Department recently and him quoting Cameron was telling.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It came under head injury, where there was quite a lot of info..

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Ah, found a bit listing memory disorders

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Despite the impression given, even Grayling has a conscience and when he's alone in the dark pondering those figures it will be pricked, given the proviso that he's not a psychopath. Grayling did look rattled to me trying to defend his Department recently and him quoting Cameron was telling.

I doubt he'll lose too much sleep over it. Will probably blame ATOS/Cameron/Anyone but himself

 

[equationgirl]

His karmic payback will be horrendous

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

His karmic payback will be horrendous

Some people just plod along with loads of luck in their lives. Knowing our luck, he'll be one of them. Just to rub our noses in it, he'll probably live to 150 years old as well

 

[audiotech]

I doubt he'll lose too much sleep over it. Will probably blame ATOS/Cameron/Anyone but himself

The fact that he's doing just that (putting the onus on Cameron and his "tough love" newspeak) speaks volumes and suggests that even Grayling himself has concerns. Whether purely for his own sake is academic, but it's there nonetheless.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

The fact that he's doing just that (putting the onus on Cameron and his "tough love" newspeak) speaks volumes and suggests that even Grayling himself has concerns. Whether purely for his own sake is academic, but it's there nonetheless.

If he was that concerned, he'd stand down or do something about it - sharpish

 

[audiotech]

Harrington's latest review out yet?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Harrington's latest review out yet?

Don't know. Haven't been keeping up with stuff. Trying to avoid it to avoid the stress of thinking about it

He's stood down now hasn't he (or rather, got rid of)? Not sure about latest review and/or recommendations

 

[Frankie Jack]

Harrington report expected Early October I think.

 

[equationgirl]

Harrington's latest review out yet?

No, but there's a call for evidence just been released:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-year-3-call-for-evidence.pdf

I haven't checked any deadlines in it but they're looking for individuals to tell them about WCA experiences.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Harrington report expected Early October I think.

but how long would it take for any recommendations to be implemented?

 

[equationgirl]

It's open until 7th September, if anybody wants to contribute.

 

[equationgirl]

but how long would it take for any recommendations to be implemented?

As an Independent Review, the Secretary of State is not required to accept any or all of the recommendations, and any recommendations may be subject to further assessment by DWP.

May be never, Minnie.

 

[equationgirl]

How to respond to this call for evidence
Please send your responses or queries to:
Email: wca.evidence@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Post: WCA Independent Review Team, Floor 2, Section B, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA.
Please ensure your response reaches us by 7th September 2012.
When responding, please state whether you are doing so as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, please make it clear who the organisation represents and, where applicable, how the views of members were assembled. We will acknowledge all responses.

The first call for evidence obtained a vast amount of evidence about the fairness and effectiveness of the process; the second call for evidence was more focused, asking questions about specific conditions. This year’s call for evidence has been designed with the claimant’s experiences in mind and tries to establish if there have been improvements following my recommendations. I ask you to reflect back on a WCA that you may have had in the past and compare it to your most recent WCA experience.
I am particularly interested in three areas of the WCA process – communications, the face to face assessment and the decision making process.

Second quote from open letter to claimants by Harrington.

 

[audiotech]

Harrington stood down. He has completed two reviews and in the review published in November 2011 Harrington, according to the Minister, Chris Grayling MP, "confirmed that the WCA remains the right process". There will be a publication of a third review later this year.

Reading between the lines, it appears that not all of the recommendations in the second of Harrington's reviews were accepted, so what's the point of a third you need to ask yourself, particularly now that Harrington has 'stood down'?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Harrington stood down. He has completed two reviews and in the review published in November 2011 Harrington, according to the Minister, Chris Grayling MP, "confirmed that the WCA remains the right process". There will be a publication of a third review later this year.

Reading between the lines, it appears that not all of the recommendations in the second of Harrington's reviews were accepted, so what's the point of a third you need to ask yourself, particularly now that Harrington has 'stood down'?

Yes, stood down because they apparently wanted a "fresh pair of eyes". Probably a more agreeable fresh pair of eyes

 

[audiotech]

The second paragraph of my above post can be used to bombard your MP.

 

[equationgirl]

Harrington stood down. He has completed two reviews and in the review published in November 2011 Harrington, according to the Minister, Chris Grayling MP, "confirmed that the WCA remains the right process". There will be a publication of a third review later this year.

Reading between the lines, it appears that not all of the recommendations in the second of Harrington's reviews were accepted, so what's the point of a third you need to ask yourself, particularly now that Harrington has 'stood down'?

I'm assuming this is a legally mandated process and the government has to carry it out. I wonder who will replace him? A government sockpuppet no doubt...

 

[audiotech]

Think, if everyone took a sockpuppet with them to their WCA claiming it to be their advocate here to take notes, then what?

 

[Mindles$]

I have my medical assesment with ATOS next week, i am on incapcity benefit & have not received a questionnaire ESA50 form with my appointment letter, so i am scared that they will stop my money! I am a genuine claimant, i have no idea how i am going to live & eat if they stop my money!

 

[equationgirl]

I have my medical assesment with ATOS next week, i am on incapcity benefit & have not received a questionnaire ESA50 form with my appointment letter, so i am scared that they will stop my money! I am a genuine claimant, i have no idea how i am going to live & eat if they stop my money!

I thought you weren't supposed to have the WCA until the form had been completed...

Can you phone them on Monday and ask about getting a form? I just don't see how you can be assesssed otherwise - you've given them no information!

Get together as much information as you can, if you have it from previous forms.

 

[Mindles$]

I thought you weren't supposed to have the WCA until the form had been completed...

Can you phone them on Monday and ask about getting a form? I just don't see how you can be assesssed otherwise - you've given them no information!

Get together as much information as you can, if you have it from previous forms.

There is no mention of the questionnaire on my appointment letter!

 

[equationgirl]

There is no mention of the questionnaire on my appointment letter!

You need to phone them and ask where your form is - as I understand it you're not supposed to have the assessment until you've completed the form.

If possible, can you delay the assessment?

This link clearly states that the assessment comes after the questionnaire has been returned.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTa...CreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_172012

 

[Mindles$]

Thank you, I will call them on monday...bugger it is bank holiday & my appointment is on tuesday afternoon!

 

[spirals]

For what it's worth at my medical I asked who would be seeing me and was told a physiotherapist. I pointed out that M.E. is down as a nuerological condition by the world health organisation and said I was pretty sure a doc should be doing my assessment under atos's own published guidelines. I said I was happy to see the physiotherapist if they had experience of dealing with people with complex issues and they said they would check with head office. Ten mins later my assessment was with a doc. Being clued up does help!

 

[equationgirl]

Thank you, I will call them on monday...bugger it is bank holiday & my appointment is on tuesday afternoon!

You could try phoning them tomorrow - they seem to work on Saturdays.

 

[Mindles$]

You could try phoning them tomorrow - they seem to work on Saturdays.

Thank you so much for this information, i shall let you know how i get on!

 

[ViolentPanda]

Wonder if brain damage could come under TIA?

TIA is "transient ischaemic attack". Himself's condition might be classifiable as that if it was caused by bleeds that had no other underlying cause such as impact trauma.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

TIA is "transient ischaemic attack". Himself's condition might be classifiable as that if it was caused by bleeds that had no other underlying cause such as impact trauma.

No, he didn't have that, but I was just struggling to find something they might decide to use instead as hypoxia/ischaemia wasn't available.