ATOS Campaign

Bydand1980
Bydand1980 Member Posts: 35
edited 12. Mar 2013, 06:13 in Living with Arthritis archive
I have a suggestion for a quite radical campaign of direct action against ATOS with the hope that we and other health related organisations can have a real impact on welfare policy particularly with regards to ATOS.

If the Mods think it's too radical/against forum rules then that's OK but I'm going to put the thought out there anyway for people to discuss.

I've seen a lot of people here and on other forums and organisations complaining about incompetent medical assessments from ATOS which in many cases don't just minimise the problems people have but actually include outright lies and misinformation including misdiagnosis. This all happens without any reference to previous medical records and evidence.

Outside of ATOS, if any doctor misdiagnosed or mistreated a patient without making reasonable checks into their medical history they would risk being struck off or disciplined by the GMC.
My suggestion is that every time such an incident occurs at an ATOS medical assessment, people make a complaint to the GMC against the doctor carrying out the assessment. There are only a limited amount of medical practitioners available to ATOS and those doctors and nurses will become more reluctent to carry out work for them if the policy continues to risk leading them to repeated action from the GMC.

It would be important that each complaint is genuine and not just an attack for the sake of it but given the record of ATOS there would be no shortage of such cases. It would also be important for this to be a co-ordinated and sustained effort with several organisations involved. I know of some politicians and media people who would support such a campaign.

Who here would agree with such a campaign of direct action against ATOS?

Comments

  • westerby1
    westerby1 Member Posts: 1
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Bydand 1980,

    My "medical" report, which was done by a registered nurse, was so full of (according to Atos errors) lies that Atos admitted it was "not up to their usual standard" (actually I think it was as they lie all the time!) and the DWP overturned the original decision without the need for an appeal.

    Atos said they would take "appropriate action" towards the nurse, but refused to tell me what this would be, I checked and they are within their rights to refuse to tell me.

    I decided to report the nurse to the Nursing and Midwifery Council. They "looked into" my complaint and then decided no further action was needed as Atos had informed them that appropriate action had been taken, and they (Atos) did not think that the nurse posed any risk to anyone. They also believed that she was competent and more than able to carry out assessments in the future!

    This seems to be happening all the time with the NMC and the GMC (where a doctor is concerned) both bodies seem to contact Atos and when Atos say the matter has been dealt with by them no further action is taken.

    I agree with what you say, but unfortunately the GMC and NMC don't seem to be concerned at all.
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think it is a great idea IF it can be looked into properly and if the correct organisations backs it. Will be interested to see what others think!
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Amanda

    I would definitely be up for this as I cannot believe how they are allowed to be so incompetent and keep their jobs, next we will hear they are getting bonuses of millions because they have passed to many people as fit for work...
    We must try to make a stand and get our voices heard its simply a seriously flawed system that is now stopping our paralympians from keeping up doing their sports that we were so proud of them last summer....What in the hell is the world coming to?

    Elainexx
  • daffy2
    daffy2 Member Posts: 1,636
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Do you think that protest equally needs to be made directly to the DWP which was after all responsible for commissioning ATOS to do the work which the DWP had decided was necessary?
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good idea. At the moment they are getting away with it without any comeback and that really isn't fair. They should be made accountable for the constant 'errors' they make.


    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm definitely up for a fight. The government want to cut money, they can start with an incompetent company whose inability to do their job properly costs so much more as so many people have to go to a tribunal. If they did it properly in the first place then they would save loads of money, which is what the government care about (not the distress caused to a bunch of disabled people).
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just done that. I am forever signing petitions, so effortless, quick and easy to do. :)

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have shared the petition on my Timeline on FB. Anyone else going to share it too?

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • wynnie
    wynnie Member Posts: 117
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Unsure wrote:
    One way to protest is to sign the petition organised by 38 degrees HERE
    signed .....
  • wynnie
    wynnie Member Posts: 117
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    anything to stop this cull of people who really are ill ,i think it should be against the law for anyone not qualified to assess an individual ,we all have human rights and i think this goes against what we are entitled to ,a fair a humane trial for thats what it is a trial ,its like asking a plumber to plaster a room ,everyman to their trade and i for one dont believe that one medical person knows everything about every illness ,i appreciate that there are forms and questions that are run of the mill, but i dont think that they apply to every illness ,i have signed the above petition and i continue to fill in any petition against any atos programme .......
  • constable
    constable Member Posts: 2,115
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well, I have signed and also my husband, he's had some bad dealings with these people to.
    Karen xx