Andrejka09
New Member
Just hope it helps to have multiple conditions and a unknown disease
Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support
- Thread starter Zabo
- Start date
It's not supposed to matter which diagnoses you have, it's supposed to consider how badly affected your life is. I know that it's not pleasant, having to describe the very worst bits of your current life, but it helps to give a clear picture of your condition(s). eg "If I need 3 sessions of dental treatment, it usually takes several weeks, because I have to rest for more than a week between each appointment."
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Andrejka09
New Member
Ok thanks your advise helping a lot thanks
Andrejka09
New Member
Hi there I had a medical last week finally after waiting since last march was my first ever medical was told to go home and I would need come back to see one off there dr does anybody have any advise has it happened to them and how long I might have to wait this time I'm also waiting to hear about pip I appleied for on October is this a separate medical thanks
dynamicbaddog
run for your life
aaaargh! Due my fortnightly payment today, however money were'nt in the account. When I rang them I was told it was because the backdated payment they issued last week has confused the computer and taken me out of my regular payment cycle. I have been promised a same day payment will be issued sometime this afternoon, but they also said that they can't guarantee that the computer will put me back on the regular payment cycle, so they said I need to ring them a couple of days before my next payment just to make sure it gets issued to me on the due date. This is so incredibly annoying, never got these troubles when I was on IB.
Yes, it's happened before, it was an ESA assessment done by ATOS. The first time, the practitioner had concvenitnetly forgotten that it was supposed to be recorded. After VP stated that an unrecorded assessment was absolutely not acceptable, the practitioner agreed to reschedule it. The centre's manager also completely refunded the fare to get there the first time, because it was ATOS's fault that it had to be cancelled.
The rescheduled assessment was two or three weeks later. If you haven't had a letter or phone call after three weeks, you'll need to follow that up (or get somebody to do that for you).
BTW let me emphasise: These assessments are not medicals, most of the assessors will not have a clue about your conditions or the treatment of them. Even if they take place in a room fitted out like a doctor's room, that's still no reason to trust the person assessing you.
Yes.
A horrid cynic might think that the current system were designed to make people even more ill. (((dbd)))aaaargh! Due my fortnightly payment today, however money were'nt in the account. When I rang them I was told it was because the backdated payment they issued last week has confused the computer <snip> This is so incredibly annoying, never got these troubles when I was on IB.
Unfortunately I missed that bit, but it probably would have revealed nothing we don't already know or suspect.
No problem, good luck with getting help to get your form accurately completed and returned in time, as mentioned elsewhere.Edit: ignore
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Hopefully they will stay as pie in the sky 'what if' proposals. Part of their election propaganda.
Just a not-that-quick thing about PIP assessments and recording them...
Not sure about the other assessors, but ATOS do not and will not provide recording equipment. You can record your assessment yourself, with advance notice, but you will have to provide *two* identical copies of the recording (one for you, one for them) at the end of the assessment on either tape or CD.
From their website:
Basically you can only use either a twin cassette recorder, or fuck-knows-what for a cd, seeing as they reckon laptops aren't suitable
They've rebooked my appointment (i wanted to double check the recording stuff, and have concluded i haven't a hope in hell of sorting that out) after i turned up brandishing a dictaphone, and they had to double check their policy (i was told on the phone i just needed to provide a tape recording, no mention of the other stuff) and i'm a bit miffed. Apparently i'm the first person they've had requesting a recording, which i found a bit surprising...
Not sure about the other assessors, but ATOS do not and will not provide recording equipment. You can record your assessment yourself, with advance notice, but you will have to provide *two* identical copies of the recording (one for you, one for them) at the end of the assessment on either tape or CD.
From their website:
http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/at_your_consultation
Basically you can only use either a twin cassette recorder, or fuck-knows-what for a cd, seeing as they reckon laptops aren't suitable
They've rebooked my appointment (i wanted to double check the recording stuff, and have concluded i haven't a hope in hell of sorting that out) after i turned up brandishing a dictaphone, and they had to double check their policy (i was told on the phone i just needed to provide a tape recording, no mention of the other stuff) and i'm a bit miffed. Apparently i'm the first person they've had requesting a recording, which i found a bit surprising...
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equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Looks like it was just the ESA contract that ended early - both they and capita are doing PIP. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26766345
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Thanks tufty, fucking disgrace that they're still involved at all.
The other bits that stood out...
The assessment centre's a bastard to find. The road it's on doesn't have any street signs, and the building isn't easy to find once you're on there. Accessibility-wise, it was fine - ground floor, ramps, automatic doors etc.
The staff seemed friendly and nice enough.The receptionist buggered off for five minutes while we were waiting though, meaning someone was stuck outside ringing the buzzer for ages.
Going by the phone conversation between reception and atos to clarify their own procedures, my friend that came with me was assumed to be my support worker; when they spoke to us to rearrange, they only addressed her and not me. Not a major thing, but weird to experience.
/rambling
The assessment centre's a bastard to find. The road it's on doesn't have any street signs, and the building isn't easy to find once you're on there. Accessibility-wise, it was fine - ground floor, ramps, automatic doors etc.
The staff seemed friendly and nice enough.The receptionist buggered off for five minutes while we were waiting though, meaning someone was stuck outside ringing the buzzer for ages.
Going by the phone conversation between reception and atos to clarify their own procedures, my friend that came with me was assumed to be my support worker; when they spoke to us to rearrange, they only addressed her and not me. Not a major thing, but weird to experience.
/rambling
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
Well look on the bright side, if they think you are not capable of arranging your own appt, they can't pass you fit to work.
Hope everything is ok.
Cheers friendofdorothy - it's for PIP (new name for DLA) - thankfully i'm in the support group for ESA, for the time being at least.
I'm still furious about their assessment recording policies. We've had a search and found a tape recorder they'd accept and it's £180
i don't trust them enough to not want to have it recorded, but there's no way i can manage that.
my friend and i have talked about saving up together for one long term, and working out a way to do an equipment loan service for anyone in the same position in future. Probably never happen, but it's a nice idea...
I'm still furious about their assessment recording policies. We've had a search and found a tape recorder they'd accept and it's £180
i don't trust them enough to not want to have it recorded, but there's no way i can manage that. my friend and i have talked about saving up together for one long term, and working out a way to do an equipment loan service for anyone in the same position in future. Probably never happen, but it's a nice idea...
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
Can they really insist you have such special recording equipment? calling equationgirl ViolentPanda yardbird - Anyone know?
Has anyone on this thread got access to that type of equipment or know where it can be loaned /hired?
This is their criteria:
It's the 'your equipment must be able to produce two identical copies' bit (on their website) that makes it more frustrating/difficult, as well as them discounting using a laptop/smartphone etc - if i was allowed to use two dictaphones it'd be relatively straightforward, but no....
It's the 'your equipment must be able to produce two identical copies' bit (on their website) that makes it more frustrating/difficult, as well as them discounting using a laptop/smartphone etc - if i was allowed to use two dictaphones it'd be relatively straightforward, but no....
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ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
For PIP apparently they can. They learned a lesson from getting caned over recording with ESA.
The kind of kit you'd require will cost several hundred quid (simultaneous dual recording cassette deck as beloved of the Old Bill) 2nd-hand, or over a thousand quid (simultaneous dual recording CD deck) new, and they're pricey because the market is small. Basically ATOS/Crapita know they've got claimants over a barrel with regard to recording PIP interviews, and if you DO manage to get the kit, you have to sign some kind of form limiting how you can use your recording, or they won't let you record!
Seems to me that surreptitious recording is the only way to go.
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
You're too nice for your own good with your "very awkward and suspicious"!
They're doing it because it deters people from continuing their claims, and means that their "assessors" can get away with all sorts of shit - bullying or abusing claimants for example.
friendofdorothy
Solidarity against neoliberalism!
Yes I'm being too fair to them. atos-sers
superfly101
Well-Known Member
An audio recording only proves what was said!
It "may" get you a fairer assessment because the HCP is under more pressure to be complete! Other than that a recording is useless!
Proving or disproving what was said will not get you a benefit award. Proving that you fit the limited descriptors gets you a benefit award.
It "may" get you a fairer assessment because the HCP is under more pressure to be complete! Other than that a recording is useless!
Proving or disproving what was said will not get you a benefit award. Proving that you fit the limited descriptors gets you a benefit award.
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