The law states a valid medical assessment needs to be carried out. The details are defined in the Contract between the DWP and Atos. I do not have a problem with the law or the contract. The problem is that Atos does not conform to the contract and the DWP does not enforce the contract as yet (in my case). It is important to insist that the DWP enforce the contract between the DWP and Atos. Clearly Atos wine and dine senior figures in the DoH and the DWP. Look at the pictures they publish of the Atos AGM, dressed to the nines, quaffing champagne and caviar. Here is a link to my letter that is still being processed. Medical Examination Government and Other Letters If the DWP does not enforce the contract or does not explain why it does not enforce the contract it becomes an NAO matter and perhaps a Police matter. The Police would need to investigate if there is evidence of corruption. In addition I like the following approach which attacks the future business opportunities of Atos Origin. Search the European Tender Notices TED In the search box enter "UK Medical" or "UK NHS" or similar. Check project by project and find the contact email. Email the contact for the tender. Insist they carry out due diligence on Atos Origin. Make them aware of the following. Dec 2009: Seriously ill cancer patients are being forced to undergo "cruel" back-to-work interviews despite the fact they should be exempt. Nov 2008: Inquiry into loss of confidential data on 12 million website users. April 2007: 900 patients to be recalled for scans so NHS bosses suspended tests being carried out by Atos Origin. May 2006: Almost 80,000 sick and disabled people a year are being wrongly denied benefits, according to a BBC investigation for Radio Five Live. March 2005: UK DWP hires Atos Origin to provide medical assessments. Point out that if Atos are awarded the contract this decision may be subject to Judicial Review. You are concerned how poor Atos has performed. You are concerned at the apparent influence of Atos. This will take a long time. Look how long it took for women to be given the vote. I will be long dead before justice is obtained but others will pick up the fight. Each day I get weaker and have to take more pain. I am pleased to note that the latest accounts from Atos shows that all is not going as well as they would like. Ask them for explanations as I have done and published on my website. Chase them when they do not respond within the 2 days. Formally complain. Involve your MP. Make them work for the millions that Atos are paid by the DWP. Most of us are ill patients we can only do what we can. Anything you can do to add to Atos costs and to help Atos lose business helps all of us. Nil desperandum. Take comfort in small victories.

I am writing the DWP ESA Medical Examinations web site. My health is very poor at the moment but I can have the occasional respite though I am always very very tired. I am too flaky to reply to emails as quick as I would like though you can write to me at (edit) It might take some time to reply or I may just have passed on. Every few weeks I take a further step worse. 1. Insist that the DWP pay you your allowance immediately or at worst within the time period set in the legislation (6 weeks I think). 2. A qualified medical advisor MUST decide whether a face to face assessment is necessary. Qualified means being a specialist in the particular medical condition or has contacted the patient's GP or Consultant. Ask in writing for the medical condition and point out that you may want to refer the matter to the GMC. 2. If a face to face assessment is required then it MUST be undertaken by a qualified medical advisor as above. I define the medical conditions as set out in the Contract between the DWP and Atos. If the medical advisor is not qualified as specified in the Contract then this is a serious assault. The police should be called. Most Atos medical advisors will back away if they know that their patient is familiar with the Contract. 3. It is best to insist that any assessment should be a domicilliary visit (at your home). The medical reason is to reduce stress on the patient. Don't waste the time of your GP to justify this, ask Atos to write their medical reasons and point out that you may want to refer the matter to the GMC. Atos would have to write explaining why making you travel miles is medically good for you as a patient. This is why they prefer you to talk to your GP. It costs them less. DWP pay Atos for medical advice. The DWP does not pay your GP. 4. Keep emailing Atos and complaining if necessary and do not allow yourself to be bullied by unqualified appointment clerks. Be polite and keep saying I am waiting for information from Atos or DWP or my MP or CAB etc. 5. The Atos complaints procedure must be completed in full. The DWP complaints procedure does NOT consider medical matters. It considers legal correctitude. 6. At the end DWP and Atos back away hoping to cost you as much as possible in legal fees. You win one case. They lose one. It costs you much more and Atos increase their profits. I do the above but I also like the following approach. European Tender Notices TED In the search box enter "UK Medical" or "UK NHS" or similar. Check project by project and find the contact email. Email the contact for the tender. Insist they carry out due diligence on Atos Origin. Make them aware of the following. Dec 2009: Seriously ill cancer patients are being forced to undergo "cruel" back-to-work interviews despite the fact they should be exempt. Nov 2008: Inquiry into loss of confidential data on 12 million website users. April 2007: 900 patients to be recalled for scans so NHS bosses suspended tests being carried out by Atos Origin. May 2006: Almost 80,000 sick and disabled people a year are being wrongly denied benefits, according to a BBC investigation for Radio Five Live. March 2005: UK DWP hires Atos Origin to provide medical assessments. Point out that if Atos are awarded the contract this decision may be subject to Judicial Review. You are concerned how poor Atos has performed. You are concerned at the apparent influence of Atos. Atos will eventually deliver the quality of service as set out in legislation and the contract or they will lose more and more business. Publicity is everything.

Is the DWP the Dickensian Circumlocution Office of today? What does the Government intend to do to improve the lives of the dying, the sick, the disabled and their carers given the condemnation by the recent Parliamentary Inquiry of the DWP and their contractor Atos Origin? Why did the Parliamentary Inquiry find that there are no statistics for after 2002-2003 from the DWP? Why are the medical conditions of those refused allowances not published? Why can't the HMRC pay allowances and pensions? Why can't the DoH (NHS) authenticate claims and forward their medical advice to the HMRC. Why do we need a nationalised recruitment agency when there are so many good ones in the private sector?

I had a medical assessment in July 2009. I was so annoyed about the whole process I put my experience online. I have also put extracts of all correspondence http://www.whywaitforever.com/dwpatos.html (the letters link from this page). Feel free to copy, paste and edit from these letters. I would avoid at all cost just relying on phone calls. If there is a phone call, if you can, always email or write a letter confirming your understanding of what was agreed. Remember you are allowed 30 days to appeal so if you have not received a copy of your medical report then ask them to extend the period that you can appeal. Remember this is not a medical procedure sanctioned by the GMC. The DWP and Atos Healthcare are just like loss adjustors. They have targets and the sick and the weak are the easiest to bully. I know that people are sick unfortunely these procedures assume every one is well and has the knowledge of a lawyer. At times I felt like a swimmer being circled by sharks DWP, Atos, JobCentrePlus ... and just when you have seen off one of the brutes another brown envelope arises ... I wish it were otherwise. I wish you well.