I am waiting for a medical with atos ... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

Fibromyalgia Action UK

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I am waiting for a medical with atos and ive been told that i can request to have a doctor that knows about fibromyalia is this right.

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dyedye04
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hamble99b profile image
hamble99b

hopefuly someone may be able to answer you tomorrow.

sandra.

Ginsing profile image
Ginsing

Afraid I dont know I suspect the answer is Yes if you can get one to spare the time to go with you :) xgins

mooo1967 profile image
mooo1967

I'd read that you could request somebody familiar with fibromyalgia but when I asked I was told you don't get to pick and choose! I would advise you to request it recorded x good luck

lcm27 profile image
lcm27

Hi,

having done battle before with ATOS and they lied when they sent back their recommendations, I sent a really snotty note with the next form saying that should I be required for a medical, then I would not attend unless I could be seen by a properly qualified Rheumatologist as I felt that the illness was so specialised that a general layperson could not efficiently assess me even though they care given basic guidelines. AND i GOT ONE, only a doctor but sufficiently versed in fibro to understand. Didnt even have to do any range of movements. So good luck to you, heres hoping. xx

jue2829 profile image
jue2829

i wrote on last 3 esa50 forms that i required a medical person that had knowledge of fibro to do my assessments, so far i haven't had to attend a face to face medical, put it on your forms and ask, its worth a shot, , good luck,

Hi

Not sure, so many people are being assessed by people who are not even doctors, physios, midwives, healthcare assistants. If you see a doctor you are lucky. By rights fibro patients should be assessed by someone who is a neurological or rheumatologist specialist but I would imagine these are very thin on the ground. I don't think you can insist but good luck.

Tinkersmummy profile image
Tinkersmummy

I had a home medical last year, the doctor told me he was very familiar with fibro and gave me loads of advice and told me that if I follow it I'll be running a marathon next year following his exercise program!!!! I managed to walk about 4 feet with assistance but when I got a copy of the report he had said I could walk 200 metres unaided and prepare and cook a meal even though he could see my hands were swollen and painful and I couldn't even grasp a pen for him! When I appealed I was told he was very experienced in his job and basically I was called a liar. I was alone for the assessment as my partner had nipped out for a dental appointment shortly after he arrived. (I was only given 1 weeks notice of the assessment). Always make sure you have a witness.

esagestapo profile image
esagestapo

Don't ask me how they do it but some people have been know to get Atos to provide a doctor who understands specific health problems related to them. I think everyone should demand to be seen by a doctor at the very least rather than the nurses Atos seem to employ in abundance for the purposes of ignoring medical evidence.

ginge profile image
ginge

I also asked for whoever reads my aplications must know or understand fibro to....the woman rang me from the esa who is a decision maker....I listed every single thing I had wrong. three quarters of the things were related to fibro....she said they would put me in the surport group as I had multi things wrong. so it goes to show that they think fibro is just one thing. but if you list everything its a diferent story and they say yes ....

Lima6MCT profile image
Lima6MCT

You can request it but you won't necessarily get. You have to be careful as if you refuse to take an assessment because the HCP isn't Fibro aware you could be classed as a refusal or no show and have any sanctions that those entail applied to your claim.

security profile image
security

Interesting subject, I read somewhere that when you go for a ATOS medical you can ask the HCP doctor for their name and general medical registration number...They have to provide this before examination.....Or could be illegal and charged with assault if not registard with the gmc.....Then use this number and name on the general medical council web site to view their qualifications in practice.

If the health practitioner is not trained in your condition (ie a nurse, midwife,physiotherapist )

You may be able to challenge this at your appeal tribual.

Your HCP was not skilled enough in passing judgement in your health condition due to

in-experance of your condition.

madddyyy profile image
madddyyy

I did not request one but when i went to the medical i had a nurse help me to the room, i was then told by a doctor he was not going to examine me or make do any exercises or walking as at0s recognise it can cause a flare up and pain and discomfort, i was also told he was qualified to examine me as he had knowledge of fibro.

It totattlay threw me when i was told, i did know that we are supposed to ahve someone who knew about fibro, i seem to remember someone from a fibro group ( might be here ) was a member of a committee or round table with goverment to represent fibro sufferes and had this requested.

Now i am not a lover of at0s or dwp but i have to admit, they were nothing but exceptional, still landed me in working group till apealed and won but the process was good.

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