More evidence that Atos Origin cheats benefits claimants
By Nick Sommerlad on November 25, 2010 12:00 AM in Health
We reported last month how far too many genuinely sick people are being unfairly denied benefits and told to look for work.
One, breast cancer victim Sue Hutchings, was told to get a job while she was waiting for surgery.
Now an independent study has found some jaw-dropping examples of the "work capability assessments" carried out by French company Atos Origin.
These so-called medicals help decide whether people get £65-a-week Jobseeker's Allowance or the more generous Employment and Support Allowance, worth up to £97.
According to Professor Malcolm Harrington, one suicidal woman was told by the Atos doctor to "stop crying and hurry up because I need to go and pick up my children from school".
A man suffering from ME was told "There's a big world out there, you know - you should go out and see some of it."
One mum found 20 errors in the assessment of her son, including a claim that he'd driven himself to the medical when his dad had.
No wonder that 40% of the people who appeal against a decision to refuse them Employment and Support Allowance are successful.
Professor Harrington found a gulf between the high levels of customer satisfaction that Atos reported and the "considerable worry, even anger" of those who contacted him.
The Government's agreed that people will get a personal summary of their medical so they can spot inaccuracies.
Atos boss Keith Wilman is doing nicely. He was paid £626,000 last year and the firm's reward for its shocking performance has been a new £300m three-year Government contract announced last week.
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/11/more-evidence-that-atos-origin.html
This is surprisingly catchy!
"We all know politicians like their lies
Big ones, little ones, porkie pies!"
This is surprisingly catchy!
"We all know politicians like their lies
Big ones, little ones, porkie pies!"
Enjoyed it very much their talking about a single to release for xmass Would it not be great for it to be no 1 at xmass ,oh well you can but hope
Workfare company A4E – it stands for Action for Employment – has huge contracts with the government to help the unemployed into work. But its most recent success has been in finding a job for former Conservative Central Office functionary Jonty Olliff-Cooper, appointing him as its new director of policy and strategy.
Brutal medical tests? What are they doing applying thumb screws to make people tell the truth about their physical capabilities. All they are trying to establish is whether claimants are still in the same condition as when DLA was applied for. information that has been voluntary up to now. And guess what? they don't get many people say their health has improved. I see no reason why the genuinely disabled should have anything to worry about. Of course one persons idea of disability is another's discomfort. With real disability a persons doctor & medical records can tell it all. The benefit bill to this country has become so out of control that it is no longer affordable, if the truly sick & disabled are to be cared for as they should be, the benefit system has to be reformed, the abuse of it ended & returned to what it was originally meant for. If this is not done we will end up like Greece & Portugal where we may find we cannot afford a system at all.
It is a little inconvenient but hardly brutal. Being in pain means still means going to hospitals & waiting around for hours & that really is no joke, but everyone has to do it if they are under a consultant. It is bad that the genuine have to be treated in the same way in this manic equality climate, but it's the cheats that have made it necessary. I am disabled & suffer a great deal of pain but I am quite happy to be checked to see if I still need DLA. Because I abhor the abuse of what is a great system, & don't want to see the day when the country can not even afford benefits to the genuine. Something has to give mate, the country is on it's uppers.
Brutal medical tests? What are they doing applying thumb screws to make people tell the truth about their physical capabilities. All they are trying to establish is whether claimants are still in the same condition as when DLA was applied for. information that has been voluntary up to now. And guess what? they don't get many people say their health has improved. I see no reason why the genuinely disabled should have anything to worry about. Of course one persons idea of disability is another's discomfort. With real disability a persons doctor & medical records can tell it all. The benefit bill to this country has become so out of control that it is no longer affordable, if the truly sick & disabled are to be cared for as they should be, the benefit system has to be reformed, the abuse of it ended & returned to what it was originally meant for. If this is not done we will end up like Greece & Portugal where we may find we cannot afford a system at all.
cos you alwaysWhy do you think that everyone who dosn't agree with you is a troll & entitled to abuse. I am not afraid because I know I am absolutely genuine. Incidentally 2 days ago the possibility of people slipping through the net when they are genuine was put to a health minister. & he said any such cases should be brought to his notice in order that any changes that need to be made will be. There is no such thing as a perfect system due to it being implemented by individuals with individual judgement, but that dosn't mean that no attempt should be made to reform the welfare system in general. It is grossly abused, although I do agree DLA is less likely to be other than where improvement in circumstances is not volunteered. But our welfare bill has gone through the roof in recent years & is just not sustainable at present levels. The system has to be tightened to discourage abuse & sometimes downright fraud. This money dosn't come from nowhere it comes from working people. No one minds their money helping genuinely sick & disabled people. I for one feel privileged to live in a country where you are not left to die if you can't help yourself as they are in so many parts of the world. But the system is abused & it has to stop because it is now out of control. Anyone who is genuine in the benefits they claim should be grateful that the welfare system is being reformed because it will ensure the country can continue to look after them. All parties want these reforms, but until now no one has had the guts to carry them out.