The blog is gaining ground rapidly now and as the days roll by more people are coming here seeking information on what to expect from ATOS. Thais great and we appreciate your membership but we need a little more help from you if that os possible.
Being summoned to attend an ATOS functional assessment can be a bit of a worry for some of our readers, that is evident from the fact that the ATOS Medical centres page is the most popular page on the blog, ever. This page is designed to give as much information as possible about ATOS medical centres and what the visitor can expect.
By giving this information we hope to help our readers by forewarning them of anything they may find a barrier, for example. If you use crutches to get around and the examination rooms are on the first floor, it could prove difficult for you if there was no lift. Or you may wish to ask for a home visit as you will not be able to leave the building safely by stairs in the event of an emergency.
So if you have been to an ATOS assessment centre recently please give us a description of access, parking, the proximity of bus stops etc. What the entry foyer to the building is like, are there stairs or a lift, how many spy cameras are there, what is the reception like, are the facilities in the waiting room good or bad etc. The more information we can provide the better off our readers will be.
I guarantee absolute anonymity, no mention of you or your disability / illnesswill be made.
i attended my atos medical yesterday as i have epilepsy and depression i suffer from panic attacks aswell, i waited 1 hour and a half before receptionist called me over to say sorry you will not be seen today, i went ballistic and suffered a severe panic attack, they then put me in a taxi and told me i will have a home visit, i then suffered a seizure obviously brought on by the stress of what happened, i think its a disgrace the way i have been treated.
Comment by lorraine campbell — January 25, 2012 @ 9:29 am
Hi Lorraine.
The same thing happened to me once, waiting around for ages only to be told to go home and will be called some other time, I found out later it was because they always double book to make sure they have plenty of customers that day, their excuse to the work and pensions committee when challenged on why they do that was that quite a lot of people fail to turn up for their assessment and they are left at the latter part of the day with no one to assess.
Maybe that’s because they insist people turn up rather than concede the home visit that they were asked to do, so the fault is probably theirs in the first place due to the fact that they are so arrogant they will not concede these home visits…!!
Comment by dwpexamination — January 25, 2012 @ 10:26 am
i went for my assessment on saturday 4.02.2o12,my appointment was for 11.45, i was there the stated 10 mins early. as soon as i got through the door,the receptionist said my name,when i confirmed who i was, she then told me that my “assessor” had to leave and they would have to re-schedual my appointment! it took me 1and a half hours to get there,severe pain and discomfort,to be told this! i bust into tears,i couldn’t believe it! i was asked if i wanted a complaint form but i refused it,i was so distressed,i also thought it would be held against me,now that i have calmed down a bit ,i wish i had taken it,any ideas on what i should do now? this was in the assessment centre in russel house in ayr.
Comment by Anonymous — February 6, 2012 @ 11:22 am
Hello Anon.
Your question has been answered on the ”DEALING WITH ATOS OR THE DWP” Page, as I said this is common (happened to me) and is due to their double booking procedure, which means these ATOS centres are chock a block every day with people getting herded in there like cattle.
The assessor did not have to leave, he just couldn’t cope with his daily schedule hence the reason for lying to you..!! They get a bonus for everyone they find fit for work didn’t you know, so the more they get in there the more they can assess and the more money they make, if there is too many people then they send them home and pay for their fare as a small concession, well at least now you know the real reason..!!
Comment by dwpexamination — February 6, 2012 @ 12:06 pm
They ask on the form to give any dates you won’t be available for the ESA medical. I gave them just one date that I had an important app on -they sent a date for medical on that day. Had to cancel it, they admitted it was their fault, made a new app for me then they cancelled that, said the doctor had flu (actually I think they booked me in with the doctor I made a complaint about, which ATOS upheld)3rd time lucky you might think, got to medical centre and was shown in but it was a Nurse Practitioner who said he couldn’t do the medical as i’d had a stroke…Actually apart from the desperately awful stress and anxiety the longer the medical is put off the longer you keep your benefit!
4th time unlucky:
I walked slowly, painfully and breathlessly the 50 ft to the waiting room, watched on CCTV and was said to be able to walk 200 yds??? was kept waiting approx 30-40 mins, in agony, ATOS boast that they are IT experts but can’t run appointments on time? They make you wait deliberately, someone will be watching you to see how you behave eg in obvious pain, relaxed, whatever.
Was sat for 20 mins during medical but they said 40 mins, but in ‘discomfort’, managed to eventually get out of chair to be examined so was said to be fine to sit or stand for 1 hr without having to move away??
Filled in my own form (took me a month) so was reported as being able to write, communicate, understand instructions etc. Was in tears three times and unable to talk at all…
I was asked how I got there and said I drove (with a carer) How long did it take me? 30 mins, would take someone else 15-20 but I’m slow and cautious. That went against me, I could sit and concentrate well for 30 mins on a quiet country road. They don’t care if you’re in agaony and be careful here, if you’re too ‘bad’ driving they want to know if the DVLA know about your condition and your Ins company.
I was eventually amazed to see i’d been awarded 6 points for mobility when they said I could walk 200 yds easily and sit and stand for an hour -all BS. Have made a complaint of maladministration because they ignored most of my disabilities FMS incl severe migraine, IBS, no sleep etc, COPD,Depression, spinal stenosis all down back and nerve compression in neck and lower back due to disc probs.
After reading doctors form I couldn’t make out HOW he had awarded me any points, it really is that hard to work out.
The place medicals are held is an NHS medical centre. When I had mt last IB medical about 2-3 yrs ago you walked into the medical centre to be greeted by a HUGE hanging sign saying ‘benefit medicals’ pointing to the dingy corridor on the right of main entrance (just to let everyone know who the scroungers were), there was a row of approx 4 old, hard plastic chairs. We weren’t supposed to sit with regular patients in the nice bright, clean area, on soft seats. It was totally humiliating and degrading but I kicked up a real stink with DWP, Govt and MP – the sign was quickly removed and nicer, slightly padded chairs replaced the plastic ones but its still as bad in many ways, the ATOS GP has a nurse ?) receptionist who watches your every move and tries not to be obvious but is, I think the GP watches on CCTV while we suffer in agaony and he gets his jollies watching- it is a no win situation.
Previously the Job shop told me to apply for DLA and gave me a stamped for to fill in.
Was turned down, who isn’t? Asked to appeal, Tribunal couldn’t decide (or read medical evidence) and asked me to have medical in my home.
Was bent over on the day, painful to walk/stand, agony to sit. The ATOS GP ordered me to sit until I eventually did. He based the medical on lower back problem excluding everything else and fobbed off FMS as a ‘all in the head’ prob of no interest. He refused to listen to a word I said and when I attempted to explain things I was told to ‘be quiet I’m writing’ -whole medical was a BIG Con. He sent his fake report to Tribunal and my application was turned down. When I got a copy of it I made an official complaint to ATOS who amazingly enough upheld my complaint and said they’d let DLA know of their findings -they did weeks and weeks later, but DLA didn’t even bother to contact me about it or reply to my numerous complaints – neither did head of DWP. Put in a claim of maladministration and suddenly after many months the DLA rang and told me to fill in a new application form. was told to make sure my own GP was aware of how all my medical probs affected daily life. Went to surgery where I had app to see a temp, polish registra (not even qualified yet). She hates people on benefits, actually I think she hates British period. She was a total bitch ( I was a nurse for 25 yrs, If I had been evil enough to speak to my patients like that I’d have been out of a job). She went ape because I made a self-referal to social services, said I had to follow surgery procedure…more BS and she couldn’t even bitch in proper English. Also had to ask for Med 3 for ESA appeal. She told me it was NOT my job to ask and the ‘welfare’ people had to request it AND it was illegal for her to give it and I would not get another. She really snarled and snapped -has a BIG problem with people not working or something.
She was aggressive, dismissive, hostile, rude and disinterested. So I doubt if she recorded anything, not that any of the GP’s seem to do so – I think they just assume that FMS = neurotic, ‘ignore her and she’ll go away’ -which is why I avoid the doctors. * I have gravel in my gall bladder, GP told me to have gall bladder out 2 yrs ago. I refused so am uncooperative. I take linseed oil and have reduced pain to almost nothing and kept my gall bladder! The GP hates it because I prefer herbal medication. The ATOS doctor said he wasn’t intersted in my ‘lotions and potions’ but apparently did mention that I use them.
I have made a complaint to GMC about DLA doctor. They are ‘investigating’ (but not much oint they don’t really do anything even if complaint is upheld). ATOS doctor has declined to comment about the complaint but that’s better for him as it avoids a public hearing and poss press reports.
It has been a long, long depressing year, have often thought that life isn’t worth it but I have a child to look after. People like us manage by running on adrenaline but when it wears off -BANG, we come down heavy and constant adrenaline is not healthy.
I have written to Ian Duncan Smith (traitor) to ask why I am being told to ask GP for illegal Med 3 (also asked DWP -no reply from either) and asked that they show real compassion and just shoot me.
Still waiting for the bullet.
Comment by Chris Jones — April 7, 2012 @ 11:59 pm