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This website provides information on how Atos runs its business, extracts from the Contract between the DWP and Atos including the MEDICAL CONDITIONS that mean a face to face medical assessment is not always necessary, ASSESSMENTS AND POINTS, the breaches of Contract that occurred in my case, my unsound medical report and the correspondence showing how difficult it is to obtain justice or advice.
The Government is inviting the public to submit petitions. Search epetitions.direct.gov.uk for "DWP" or "Atos" or "disabled" to list relevant petitions including Stop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families (http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968).
Other ongoing petitions are Petition against constant vilification of sick and disabled claimants and Petition to "Sack Atos Immediately" .
The DWP occasionally consults the public http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/.
You can click on a date to link to the item on this page.
| British Medical Association | 8 August 2009 | Web Form | To | Notification of Parliamentary Inquiry. |
| 27 October 2009 | From | Confirms concerns over Atos. | ||
| 3 March 2010 | To | Informs BMA of Atos adverse comments | ||
| 8 March 2010 | From | No action will be taken |
The British Medical Association is the professional medical association and trade union for doctors and medical students.
Type of Feedback: Concerns about your care
The House of Commons Works and Pensions Committee announced on 2 July 2009 an inquiry "Decision making and appeals in the benefits system" (deadline for written evidence Thursday 10th September 2009). I feel the BMA could make a valuable contribution to this inquiry. My major concern is that the DWP appears to require doctors to operate procedures that are potentially detrimental to the health of a patient. The doctor I saw did not have access to my medical history. In my opinion, the premises in Highgate run by Atos Origin on behalf of the DWP did not conform to the standards of work places which deal with the sick.
Thank you for your email. As you may know the British Medical Association is a trade union and professional association for doctors. We are not a statutory body and therefore do not have any involvement in setting the guidelines for sickness or benefit certification.
However, the BMA are active participants in the Government's Health Work and Well-being Agenda and would support the view that good work is good for health and that by doing all they can to help people enter, stay in or return to work, doctors are acting in patients best interests.
The DWP makes its own arrangements for the procurement of evidence. If a claimant believes that the evidence is insufficiently comprehensive then the claimant will need to challenge this, and should request assurances that all relevant attending consultants have been approached.
While we cannot comment on individual cases the BMA does have concerns regarding the use of non-doctors by the Department of Work and Pensions and Atos Healthcare to assess patients for benefits claims. We are seeking a meeting to discuss these issues with Atos.
I hope this information is helpful.
I appreciate your reply of 27 October 2009. Atos have completed their investigations in my case. I have published all correspondence including the findings of the Atos Independent Tier. see http://www.whywaitforever.com/dwpatosletters.html
The Atos Independent Tier seems to be critical of the BMA. Please search for BMA in the above page.
I published our correspondence and others see http://www.whywaitforever.com/dwpatoslettersgov.html.
I wondered if you would like to provide me with a response which I would be pleased to publish. I attach a letter I have emailed to the GMC which complains at the use by Atos of unqualified people to make medical decisions.
I know you cannot get involved in particular cases. I hope my evidence assists you in improving matters.
Highest regards