ATOS Campaign

[F_DCAs]

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...

[Steward]

You can use Google to search the web using these links below:-

[Kelcou]

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]

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]

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]

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

[honeybee13]

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]

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

Mind you, FOI 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]

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