pip

[willie01]

what right has a nurse got the find you fit at a pip assessment

[HuwieHex]

The nurse writes his or her findings and sends the report to the DWP.

[willie01 in reply to HuwieHex]

the training they get is 4 to 6 weeks

[pippan]

Every right unfortunately. The person who assessed me was a physiotherapist!!!! Phone for a copy of the assessor's report if you haven't already done so. Then start a mandatory reconsideration and you'll be able challenge any inaccuracies you feel are in the report. It's not unusual to be misrepresented, remember it's not about what your condition is but how it effects your daily living. Keep going and good luck.

[willie01 in reply to pippan]

i have done all that i am going to take the report to cab and my own nurse to go over it with me they have not put all my med,s on the report as i am on three lots of med,s for my diabetes they only listed two. When i went for my assessment i had to get the train to Glasgow the assessment center was a five min walk but it took me 20 min to get there because i had to stop and catch my breath as i have copd and asthma bronchitis plus my artherists was acting up with pain

[pippan in reply to willie01]

They don't take into account what meds you're on, really even what your condition is. They're only interested in how it impacts on your daily life. You managed a 5 minute walk even though it took you 20 minutes, maybe you didn't emphasise how difficult that was for you, the criteria for mobility is not being able to walk the length of 3 busses, I believe. If you are in pain or breathless immediately on doing something tell them that in no uncertain terms. I wish you the very best.

[Ruach]

Not required to list any meds............The assesment is your opportunity to state how your condition affects you, not what meds you are on and what they may be for and then assume your condition by the meds you are on.

[shadow4me in reply to Ruach]

Each time I have been assessed they have asked for a list off my meds x

[shadow4me]

I have severe copd and had a reassessment has mine is due to run out I also have other health matters including dep and anx which I have suffered with most off my life,I was visited by a nurse who wasn't interested really in my copd but more in my mental issues ?If only these people got to suffer this horrid illness for a few days

[willie01]

Courageous whistleblower, Scottish nurse and ex-Atos employee, Joyce Drummond, who recently made a heartfelt apology to Atos assessment victims, has submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament Select Committee on Welfare Reform.

Joyce forwarded some of her notes to me, containing this information about Atos assessments. I have edited where needed, organised the notes and added some information to the text. I’ve included the contents from Joyce’s notes in full. Both Joyce and I share this information in the hope that people going through Atos assessments will find it helpful.

Joyce told me:

“I knew nothing about Atos when I joined, and left as soon as I realised that there was no way to fight from the inside. I stated at my interview for the job that I believed in social inclusion and social justice.

I went for 4 weeks training in England. The training did not prepare me for what I was expected to do in real life.

The forms that are completed prior to assessment, I have recently found out, are opened by Royal Mail Staff. They are then sent for “scrutiny” where nurses decide whether or not a face to face assessment is required. I was not involved in this and do not know what criteria are used.

It is made clear throughout training and working that we are not nurses- we are disability analysts. Also, we do not carry out “medical assessments” – we carry out “functional assessments”. We did not even need a diagnosis to carry out assessments. I had reservations around consent, as we were expected to assess patients – sorry, we didn’t have patients, we had ‘claimants’ – who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

We were also consistently told that we did not make benefit decisions. The final decision was made by a DWP decision maker with no medical qualification. If our assessment was overturned at appeal we never knew about it. There was no accountability for assessments overruled.”

Please note that assessment starts on the day of your appointment with the Health Care Professional (HCP) reading the form you completed when you applied for benefit. Remember that every single question you are asked is designed to justify ending your claim for ESA and passing you as “fit for work”. That is what Atos are contracted to do by the Government. This is not a genuine medical assessment, but rather, an opportunity for the DWP to take away the financial support that you are entitled to.

Things that are noted at this stage are:

Did you complete the form yourself

Is the handwriting legible

Are the contents coherent

These observations are already used in assessing your hand function, your cognitive state and concentration.

Further observations made:

Do the things you have written add up

Does your medication support your diagnosis

What tests you have had to confirm diagnosis. For example a diagnosis of sciatica is not accepted unless diagnosed by MRI scan

Do you have supporting medical evidence from your GP or consultants. If you do, it shows that you are able to organise getting this information

Joyce observes:

“This is also a hidden cost to the NHS. I believe that if ATOS request information there is a charge levied by GP’s. However claimants are expected to source medical evidence themselves. It uses valuable NHS time for medical staff to write supporting statements.

There were no hidden cameras, at least in Glasgow, to watch people arriving for assessment or sitting in waiting room. This may not be true in other areas.”

When the HCP has read your form they input some data into the computer system. The assessment properly begins when they call your name in the waiting room.

At this point the HCP assesses:

Did you hear your name being called

Did you rise from your chair unaided, did the chair have support arms or not

Were you accompanied – assessing your ability to go out alone

Were you reading a paper while waiting – assessing your concentration

Did you walk to the assessment room unaided, did you use any aids correctly. Did you navigate any obstacles safely – assessing sight

The HCP will shake your hand on introduction – assessing your handshake, noting if are you trembling, sweating – signs of anxiety. The HCP carefully scrutinises everything you do and say. The HCP will often ask on way to waiting room:

How long you’ve been waiting – assessing ability to sit, physically, and appraising your mental state

How did you get here today – assessing ability to drive or use public transport

Formal assessment begins by listing medical conditions/complaints. For each complaint you will be asked:

How long have you had it, have you seen a specialist

Have you had any tests, what treatments have you had

What’s your current treatment. Have you had any other specialist input e.g. physiotherapy, CPN

The HCP will use lack of specialist input/ hospital admissions to justify assessing your condition as less severe. Medications will be listed and it will be noted if they prescribed or bought. Dates will be checked on boxes to assess compliance with dosage and treatment regime. Any allergies or side-effects should be noted.

A brief note is made of how you feel each condition affects your life

A brief social history will be taken – who you live with, if have you stairs in your house or steps outside your house

Employment history taken – asking when you last worked, what you work entailed, reason for leaving employment

Your typical day – this is the part of the assessment where how you function on a day to day basis is used to justify the HCP decisions. Anything you say here is what is most likely to be used to justify you failing your assessment and being passed as “fit for work”. Along side this, the HCP records their observations.

Starting with your sleep pattern, questions are asked around your ability to function. This will include:

Lower limb problems – ability to mobilise to shops, around the house, drive, use public transport, dress, shower

Upper limb – ability to wash, dress, cook, shop, complete ESA form

Vision – did you manage to navigate safely to assessment room

Hearing – did you hear your name being called in waiting room

Speech – could the HCP understand you at assessment

Continence – do you describe incontinence NOT CONTROLLED by pads, medication. Do you mention its effects on your life when describing your typical day

Consciousness – Do you suffer seizures – with loss of continence, possible injury, witnessed, or uncontrolled diabetes

[willie01]

parliamentlive.tv/event/ind... / look at that page on line