ATOS sponsers the Paralympics - it is one big joke!

[Anteater]

The government pays this company loads of money to discriminate people with disabilities and send them back to work - definately NOT to help us

For them to sponser such an event is in my mind disgusting !!!

[Bee346]

yes it's a diabolical insult isnt it

[Bee346 in reply to Bee346]

They also had a big input in Ord Olympics being respnsible for IT ....they are a global machine!!!

[Irene55]

Yes, I too had an assessment from them. To test the strength in my hands the nurse told me to press down on her hands and at the last second she moved hers away. Then she told me to lie down and put her hands on my legs. She told me to press as hard as I could against her hands. She moved them away at the last second again. So she did not learn anything from that. I said that was not a proper test but she did not answer and wrote something down on her computer.

I was not ready at that time to go back to work but they stopped my ESA and then a few days later I got a letter saying why. I had to go back to work and since then I have no energy again. I go to work and come home. I am just managing to hold on but I know there are people in a worse condition than me who are sent back to work.

The attitude now seems to be one of not caring. All the government seems to care about is being voted in to office. Then the voters are nothing to them. Only big businesses are important, like ATOS.

[Bee346 in reply to Irene55]

Irene55...re apply as soon as you can ....get sick note from your doc....and for anyone who gets a 'fit for work' when you are not....immmediatly ask for a 're-consideration' (this buys you time for extra supporting evidence) then go to appeal if you need to. Good luck

[moimoi]

I have no problem with this issue as sponsorship is very important. If you are not satisfied with the examination make a complaint against the individual carrying out the test and request a copy of the detailed report.

[Anteater in reply to moimoi]

Hi moimoi

I agree that sponsership is very important but not from a company like this. The company does not care about disability, it is an uncaring company that is just interested in government money.

They say I am fit for work but I know I am not as it would affect me physically and mentally (my consultant has also confirmed this). I am appealing but why should I and others be put through all this stress and anxiety.

I have worked since the age of 16 and never been a sickly person and NEVER been out of work.

My company, Local Government, retired me on ill health grounds after trying everything for me, even home working which did not help.

My condition has got worse and is not going to get any better.

They are picking on the vulnerable instead of looking at the real issues in this country!!!!!!

[moimoi]

I disagree with your content and tone. Both are causing you a lot of upset and the sooner you let the anger go and move on the better.

[Anteater in reply to moimoi]

I am sorry you disagree wih my content and tone - Yes I am angry and why shouldnt I be - I have moved on a lot in my life and I have my opinion and you have yours - thats life!

[uknlv]

I have to agree with Anteater, I was put off work due to ill health (the NHS) and had to go through three exams and an appeal before finally being told I was not fit to go back to work. It took me going to the exam and when I had to walk to the office where the nurse was my lips had turned blue. If not for that I imagine I would still be considered 'fit to work'. It is very stressful and demoralizing to have to jump through so many hoops when you truly are to sick to work. Then you watch programs on the telly where people have bickled the system for 10's of thousand of money. And I wonder how the heck did they do it? Maybe they turn a blind I to the fakers and the real suffers have to go through heck to get any help!

[Maggs3petts]

I agree with you both, Anteater and Uknlv. I worked all my life and I've been out of work, due to ill-health for about 7 or 8yrs now. As far as I'm concerned I'm only getting out of the systems what I paid in. I'm sure there are many others in similar positions. ATOS get £350 per person they judge 'fit for work' whether that person is or not. So of course they're gonna mark everyone they can as 'fit for work'. I'm attending my GP, my two Consultant Gastroentrologists, my Consultant Rheumatologist, my Consultant for General Surgery, my Consultant Gynaecologist think that's all. They've told me time and time again that there is no cure and the conditions will gradually get worse but I'm certain when its my turn they'll say, 'fit for work' but if that happens I'm gonna appeal and keep on appealing because how can all these Consultants be wrong? How can one Nurse or Doctor decide in 15 mins whether a person is fit for work. The other thing they have is quotas they have to exam 8 people per day. There was a recent Panorama programme about it. The Professor who was in discussion with the gov in setting all this up even said he had warned the gov that "One size does NOT fit all!" I heard later that he had resigned his post. But all any of us can do is wait and see. But do, as Bee346 stated, appeal it. Its a pain having to do it all again but what is the alternative. Stay strong everyone. (

[Jax1 in reply to Maggs3petts]

Hi Maggs,

I'm very interested in your statement about ATOS receiving £350.00 per person they judge for "Fit for work", would you kindly inform me where you received these fact from? My 13 week investigation is coming to an end and waiting to here which category they shall place me?

Thank you

Best wishes