HAD ATOS MEDICAL TODAY

carola

Good Morning My Friends and hope you are all having a good day today?
Just back from my 1st Atos 'medical' appointment for them to assess whether or not I should be awarded ESA.
Cannae believe they are allowed to call it a 'medical'.
I was taken 30mins late and she did not apologise.
Asked me stupid questions about a typical day in my life and tried to pull my legs and arms up and down.
All she did was sit in front of her computer and tick boxes on an onscreen form and try to put words into my mouth.
Took about 20minutes of this tat.
If I weren't so stong minded I would have felt like a piece of worthless ****.
Definately going to request a copy of her 'medical report' - will be a very interesting read.
I took my Father in with me as a witness to it all as this 'Medical Assessor' had a woman with her under the guise I suspect of a trainee.
You never know, I may 'pass' the medical. Will let you know.
Just wanted to say that this assessment is a pile of tat....... and that I wish they would use professional medical consultants or actually save some money and utilise consultant and gp's notes to assess out medical conditions.
IMeantime, I blow a raspberry in their direction.
Keep smiling Carol

dreamdaisy

Strewth! I can hear the raspberry! They do these things all wrong don't they? What the hell is a typical day? We all have good days and bad days, and sometimes a mixture throughout the day. What a performance. I am so sorry carola, though I suspect it lived down to your expectations. When do you hope to hear? I can't remember if you posted that bit - sorry! DD

carola

Hey DD.
They said reports are normally sent to the jobcentre in 2 weeks so if I have not heard from the jobcentre in 4 weeks to chase the jobcentre.
The more I speak with people and read articles I know we would all be laughing if we all became junkies and up the duff THEN we would have our houses paid for and given lots of pocket money for our drugs haha!
When I know the outcome I am going to visit with my MP then submit my 'findings' and suggestions to the MP and David Cameron regarding the positives and negatives of the system and my experience and ways I think they can improve it all.
A few weeks ago I started writing a document and need to see what my individual results are to finish it. It'll likely be thrown in the bin however it keeps me out of mischief and stops me from throwing things across the room

woodbon

My Atos medical was the same. I got 6 points for not being able to sit for long enough without moving - along with comments that I might have been able to walk quicker! I always walk slowly when I first stand, as I tend to be unstready, she didn't mention that!

She pulled me about a lot and the next day I was in agony, but it wore off after a week or so. When I saw the report it was nothing like the medical and said I could do things that I can't and she had tested things that she didn't. She also mentioned that I was dressed smartly, as if that had anything to do with it!

I hope you are lucky. You can appeal if you don't get it as I'm sure you know. I appealled in Jan and I am still waitijng! Thats the worst part for me!
Some people get ESA first time and hopefully you will be one of those! Good LUck and try not to worry!
Love Sue

carola

Hi Sue and thanks for your post.

You appealed in January and are still waiting?

That is disgraceful.

Yep, you never know, I may be successful

Good luck with your appeal, Sue.
Carol

elainebadknee

HI Carol

This sounded very typical and of course all I can draw upon was my experience. But mine was over 45 mins late as they had no receptionist, someone had to go and find her, as other members of staff were not allowed to log us in on the system they had.
I also took my dad with me and was so happy I did as she mentioned I could get onto and off exmanination couch with ease!! It was also stated that I could sit with no problems but when someone is tlaking to you can you just interrupt them and say " I need to get up to move about" I didnt think I could so didnt ask. It also stated I had no problem going for big shops which was not the answer I gave, told her my parents did big shop and I only went for trips when I could manage one or two items. The trick I fell into was she sympathised with me, stating she had bad knees also and made me feel at ease so I answered questions honestly and elaborated/explained maybe giving her too much ammo......I had my medical on Tuesday, the decision was made and typed up that afternoon and got result in post that saturday.
Sue...It was also stated that I was "of average build and of clean/casual appearance". I found this odd....I have appealed and awaiting date sometime later this year....
I hope CArol you get a good decision and that it may have been interpreted better than you feel..

Best of Luck

Elainex

carola wrote:

Hi Sue and thanks for your post.

You appealed in January and are still waiting?

That is disgraceful.

Yep, you never know, I may be successful

Good luck with your appeal, Sue.
Carol

frogmorton

Carol

well done at least the first bit is over and you are still here.

Elaine
How very judgemental 'average build and clean/casual appearance INDEED!!! what has that got to do with the price of eggs :?:

Love Both

Toni xx

annebr

My ATOS medical was along the same lines as the others. More focus on what I done on a day to day basis than on my medical conditions.

When i eventually received a copy of my report I found that questions had been completed incorrectly, and the report had been altered. I questioned this but haven't got a satisfactory response.

My claim was for DLA & I have lost all appeals and now my tribunal. I have the option to go to the upper tribunal which I am thinking about.

Anne

trisher

Hi Carol and Anne

I hope things go well for you Carol. Lets hope it goes well for you. Fingers crossed that you do not have a battle on your hands.

Trish xx

Anne

After all you have gone through I cannot believe it, I really can't.

Anne I hope you continue with this. I know you must be so tired of all the time and effort you have had to do.

This is the reaction they are waiting for that you will not try again. That earns them a pat on the back as another person does not get their claim.

I do hope you carry on Anne

Love Trish xxxx

carola

It is really interesting they have commented on all your appreances/dresscode.
I had toyed with the idea about not putting my face on/makeup however I thought that would be dishonest as I NEVER EVER EVER hobble out the door without my slap on. And I wore a business trouser suit however had on my fitflops as that is all I can wear on my tootsies. It'll be interesting to see what she says about my dresscode.
The bed she made me climb onto felt like it was deliberately about 10 feet in the air and had x4 steps up onto it however I cannot climb stairs. So I was a bit of a sight trying to get onto the bed without stairs. I bet they put the stairs there to see if you use them even although I say we cannot. They are disgustingly sneaky slimey 'people'.
Ho hum

dorcas

Hi Carol,

:shock: ...that was some first medical you had. :roll:

I went for my first ATOS med this afternoon. I did ask the 'ATOS healthcare professional' doing my assessment what her 'day job' was and was surprised to be told she is a registered specialist nurse in RA...so that shut me up!!

She explained that she had been asked to assess my physical 'functioning' and how my condition was impacting on daily life, but would not be discussing my medical condition....although checked my meds and frequency of hospital appointments.

I was in for over an hour....answered a zillion questions while she tap tapped on the PC. I was then asked if I would mind if she did an examination of how mobile my joints were...but said I should not do anything that might cause me pain or discomfort.
I wasn't able to do the 'couch tests' and some of the other movements and told her so; it didn't seem to be a problem.

Haven't a clue what the outcome is likely to be... no hints given. Just told that the dwp will get her report and they will make the decision about ESA and let me know.
so that's that.

Iris x

tillytop

Hi Carol and Iris, sounds as if you both had very different experiences from your medicals and I wish you both the very best of luck with the results.

Doesn't it just beggar belief that they think they can assess the impact on your daily lives in an "interview" without proper reference to your conditions. Anyone who knows anything about arthritis knows that it varies widely in its impact, day to day and, as DD says, sometimes within the day so the "one size fits all" approach is clearly inappropriate.

Fingers crossed for both of you.

Love Tilly x


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marion1952

Hi

These assessments really make my blood boil.. I wonder if applicants could ask for them to be videoed - that would ensure that what was put in the report was a true account of the assessment!!

I would also like to see some statistics - about how many are 'approved', how many 'rejected' and what the applicants medical conditions are.. there needs to be transparency about the decision making and some accountability..



Marion (also known as Mrs Victor Meldrew)

livinglegend

Hey people

There is a sticky on Disability Benefits Consultation at the top of these threads, if you have had a bad experience of Atos or DWP then make a complaint via the sticky. Write it out properly if it helps and then post it. The more that people complain the about mistreatment and fraudulent medical reports the better.

Joseph 8)

dorcas

Yep...you're absolutely right Joseph!

I had a look at the link and fully intend sending in comments once I've received the notification of dwp's decision into my eligibility for ESA, based on today's ATOS assessment .

I also attended a compulsory 'Pathways to Work' interview a few weeks ago which was nothing less than ludicrous.

We have to take every opportunity to be heard and I will be copying my MP and MSP into my correspondence....

Iris x

carola

Hi Iris
I had a Pathways to Work thing on Monday there also. What a waste of time, eh? The meeting was supposed to take place on the 1st floor however they wouldn't let me use the staff lift as they said in the event of a fire I said I could not use the stairs. So, he had to come downstairs and scribbled his notes on the back on an envelope!!
It sounds like we are both at the same levels of progressions with our applications - I hope we shall both be holding hands and successfully cross the finishing line together!
I wish you lots of good luck.

Joseph - yep, I am going to be submitting my thoughts as I don't have any right to moan if I don't try to do something to bring about change!
Have a good day today, My Friends.
Carol

livinglegend

marion1952 wrote:

I would also like to see some statistics - about how many are 'approved', how many 'rejected'

6% approved, 94% rejected, figures from DWP.

70% approved at tribunal for people who get advice for their appeal from CAB or other helpful organisations. 40% approved if people don't get any advice.

Seriously disabled or dying people are regularly declared fully fit for work. For instance, a person was told that they could walk normally as they had two good legs and could stand for long periods of time. Conveniently, the examining doctor didn't notice that there was one leg missing.

Joseph 8)

happy_feet

Hi again
What ATOS are paid to do is find what you are capable of doing so that they can find you fit for work.

The reason they mention how you are dressed is because if you look ok - smart, casual or even just clean it means you can get yourself ready, look after yourself, so therefore can work.







[Text deleted by moderator - please do not use defamatory language ModeratorWM]

dreamdaisy

Tap dance whilst singing 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire', probably. Jaded? Cynical? Moi? DD

marion1952

Hi Joseph

Sorry - only just seen that you had provided some statistics....

the whole thing is ridiculous!!

Marion

lavenderlady

after reading about these ATOS interviews I am astounded that they allow anyone to get benefits, I have no intention of going back to work as along with my arthritis my other disabilitys makes it much too difficult for me,
I did fully intend after having 5 kids that when my youngest now 15 was at High school I would go back to work part time but over the years of ill health its not going to happen took a while for me to accept that, but I do feel so bad for you all, I do however get DLA indefinatly and have done since 95 and dread it if Iever need to go on one of these examinations,
but the only thing I would say and do is to describe your worst day you've ever had with your disabilitys, good luck to every one I truly believe anyone with arthritis should be given a chance and acessed by maybe an arthritis sufferer who knows whats happening, its a bit like health visitors who've never had kids ????? if you know what I mean :?

barbara12

Hi Carol
Good luck , I really hope it all goes in your favour, like Joseph says put in a complaint, other wise this treatment will never end.
Thank goodness you took your father with you.
Barbara xx