ATOS Campaign

F_DCAs · 19th December 2009, 00:53

Further to a request made, I'm currently brainstorming for ideas for a campaign to get the government to revoke the involvement of ATOS Healthcare.

Early days, but one idea is for an individual forum website dedicated to advice in dealing with them, highlighting the transgressions they've committed in the two years since the government started getting them involved in what should be the DWP's function, the procedures they themselves follow, how counter-productive their actions are, and to bring the whole matter to public attention.

I admit that I do have a serious bone to pick with them, but know that I'm by no means alone in this.

I'm all ears for any suggestions...

Kelcou · 19th December 2009, 02:25

Oh, you're not alone F, not by a long chalk! So many genuinely ill people are being summarily forced into appeals it must be costing the taxpayer a fortune. And not achieving the aim of weeding out the rotten apples.
In an ideal world, I'd like to see a seperate ATOS part of CAG much like the bank section. I know it's probably unlikely due to size and cost but there are thousands of people being affected by this.
I'll support any action I can in any way I can realistically do so.
Down with ATOS! Long live ill health! [You're right, not a catchy slogan...]
Rae

mazbck · 19th December 2009, 02:36

The worst thing about ATOS 'doctors' is that they blatantly IGNORE specialist/consultants notes and letters.

How they can completely disregard information provided by experts baffles me.

Kelcou · 19th December 2009, 03:22

mazbck, I agree with your sentiments but you can't blame ATOS for that. It's the DWP's policy to ignore GP's. Off the top of my head I can't cite you exact details, but in the pile of bumpf I have from them for my appeal they clearly state that a GP's view can be discarded. They think, I suspect, that GP's are too close to their patients and easily fooled...
ATOS, I suspect, in turn are told to ignore a GP's diagnosis and - ergo - consultants or any other NHS professional.
It is, tbh, absolutely ridiculous.

F_DCAs · 19th December 2009, 10:50

Importantly, it should be made clear exactly what contract exists between the government and ATOS, and what ATOS is required to do.

honeybee13 · 19th December 2009, 11:08

Hi guys. I don't have any experience of campaigning, but would certainly support a campaing against these people. I had the same problem with ATOS as most of the poor posters on benefits on this forum. And went through the appeal process.

Would the details of the contract come under the Freedom of Information Act, or would they claim it's commercially sensitive?

F_DCAs · 19th December 2009, 12:56

Difficult to say. ATOS are a private firm (albeit doing state business), but the DWP are not. If Freedom of Information Act requests are to be made, they'd be better directed at the people employing ATOS.

Mind you, Freedom of Information Act requests I have previously made to government departments have been ignored or denied receipt. This is why any should be emailed or sent recorded.

Fuzzgin · 30th December 2009, 20:22

Maybe there could be a subforum in the benefits/minimum wage section, a bit like the RLP one in the General consumer section?

19th December 2009, 00:53	#1 (permalink)
F_DCAs Basic Account Holder Free trial on our eBay auction sniper Cagger since : Mar 2008 Posts: 964	ATOS Campaign Further to a request made, I'm currently brainstorming for ideas for a campaign to get the government to revoke the involvement of ATOS Healthcare. Early days, but one idea is for an individual forum website dedicated to advice in dealing with them, highlighting the transgressions they've committed in the two years since the government started getting them involved in what should be the DWP's function, the procedures they themselves follow, how counter-productive their actions are, and to bring the whole matter to public attention. I admit that I do have a serious bone to pick with them, but know that I'm by no means alone in this. I'm all ears for any suggestions...

19th December 2009, 02:25	#2 (permalink)
Kelcou Classic Account Holder Protect your signature with SignGuard Cagger since : Oct 2009 I am in: Dorset Posts: 1,030	Re: ATOS - Campaign needed Oh, you're not alone F, not by a long chalk! So many genuinely ill people are being summarily forced into appeals it must be costing the taxpayer a fortune. And not achieving the aim of weeding out the rotten apples. In an ideal world, I'd like to see a seperate ATOS part of CAG much like the bank section. I know it's probably unlikely due to size and cost but there are thousands of people being affected by this. I'll support any action I can in any way I can realistically do so. Down with ATOS! Long live ill health! [You're right, not a catchy slogan...] Rae

19th December 2009, 02:36	#3 (permalink)
mazbck Basic Account Holder Where else can you earn 8% interest on your money? Start your County Court claim NOW!!! Cagger since : Jul 2009 I am in: Aberdeen Posts: 269	Re: ATOS - Campaign needed The worst thing about ATOS 'doctors' is that they blatantly IGNORE specialist/consultants notes and letters. How they can completely disregard information provided by experts baffles me.

19th December 2009, 03:22	#4 (permalink)
Kelcou Classic Account Holder Try our eBay sniping service Cagger since : Oct 2009 I am in: Dorset Posts: 1,030	Re: ATOS - Campaign needed mazbck, I agree with your sentiments but you can't blame ATOS for that. It's the DWP's policy to ignore GP's. Off the top of my head I can't cite you exact details, but in the pile of bumpf I have from them for my appeal they clearly state that a GP's view can be discarded. They think, I suspect, that GP's are too close to their patients and easily fooled... ATOS, I suspect, in turn are told to ignore a GP's diagnosis and - ergo - consultants or any other NHS professional. It is, tbh, absolutely ridiculous. Last edited by Kelcou; 19th December 2009 at 03:23. Reason: typoo

19th December 2009, 10:50	#5 (permalink)
F_DCAs Basic Account Holder eBay user? Find misspellings and zero-bid items Cagger since : Mar 2008 Posts: 964	Re: ATOS - Campaign needed Importantly, it should be made clear exactly what contract exists between the government and ATOS, and what ATOS is required to do.

19th December 2009, 11:08	#6 (permalink)
honeybee13 Basic Account Holder Give yourself a better chance with our claims guides and litigation kits Cagger since : Nov 2009 Posts: 565	Re: ATOS - Campaign needed Hi guys. I don't have any experience of campaigning, but would certainly support a campaing against these people. I had the same problem with ATOS as most of the poor posters on benefits on this forum. And went through the appeal process. Would the details of the contract come under the Freedom of Information Act, or would they claim it's commercially sensitive?

19th December 2009, 12:56	#7 (permalink)
F_DCAs Basic Account Holder Where else can you earn 8% interest on your money? Start your County Court claim NOW!!! Cagger since : Mar 2008 Posts: 964	Re: ATOS - Campaign needed Difficult to say. ATOS are a private firm (albeit doing state business), but the DWP are not. If Freedom of Information Act requests are to be made, they'd be better directed at the people employing ATOS. Mind you, Freedom of Information Act requests I have previously made to government departments have been ignored or denied receipt. This is why any should be emailed or sent recorded.

30th December 2009, 20:22	#8 (permalink)
Fuzzgin Basic Account Holder We need funds Please donate something Cagger since : Mar 2007 Posts: 347	Re: ATOS Campaign Maybe there could be a subforum in the benefits/minimum wage section, a bit like the RLP one in the General consumer section?