Atos to pull out of dwp services

[happyhelper]

As (I) predicted. See below.

 

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5abc8d36-9a28-11e3-8232-00144feab7de.html#axzz2tttGCsxL

 

But, is it a victory ?

 

Well sort of yes, but the war is far from won. DWP may now make ATOS scapegoats, but will still discreetly pay them millions of pounds and may well not even condemn the French based conglomerate for not paying sufficient (if any) corporation tax. A new set of out-sourced, well paid, well oiled cronies (eg G4S , Capita, Serco) with allegedly, with previous, will then be engaged.

 

In any event, well done to the CAGGERS who turned out to yesterday's demo.

[happyhelper]

And BTW for the avoidance of doubt in posting the thread I clearly do not wish to encourage the sort of threats used by some activists to eliminate ATOS.

[happyhelper]

.... and if the FT link is restricted then simply search on google (there are other commercial site engines) with words .... ATOS ... and THREATS.

[Mr.P]

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/17/atos-fit-for-work-tests-contract - Whilst the likes of Serco, G4S, Capita, and Emma's little harpies (a.k.a. A4E) are likely to be bidders for any new contracts, the legalities of the tendering process would also see Atos being in with a chance.

 

The battle is not over, and if anyone thinks any of the other likely bidders would be able to do a better job, they are deluded. One only needs to look at the Olympics debacle (G4S), prisoner tagging fraud (Serco & G4S), and W2W fraud (A4E) to see what sort of mess they would make of it.

 

Leave medical assessments to qualified professionals who know what they are doing, i.e. the GPs and NHS.

[antone]

And BTW for the avoidance of doubt in posting the thread I clearly do not wish to encourage the sort of threats used by some activists to eliminate ATOS.

 

Your caution is noted with approval. CAG cannot and does not condone threatening behaviour.

[worried33]

well we have no idea yet if a different company would be any better and would a different company be willing to record assessments?

 

I have always had the view ATOS was used simply as a shield for the DWP, so the DWP could act ignorant if the foul practice was ever found out and ATOS would be the fall guy.

 

I think if we get fragmented services like PIP has so a postcode lottery things will get worse. Because if there is problems then it wont be the entire country meaning less of a noise will be made.

[silverfox1961]

The daily Mirror has an article but the comments below it reveal a lot about ATOS

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/benefits-uk-testing-firm-atos-3168142

[unclebulgaria67]

Why not retain the assessments within the NHS, as the money is retained within the state. As soon as you pay a private company, the profits they make go elsewhere. I think ATOS are French, so some of the government money will be going out of the country.

[Conniff]

Oh god, not the Daily Mirror. They are so anti everything done by anyone except labour that if this budget announced a minimum wage of £100, they would find something to whinge about.

[rebel11]

Are Atos going to change their name to Atloss?

 

On a more serious note ATOS are paid two different rates. If claimants failed the assessment they were paid more.

[andydd]

Why not retain the assessments within the NHS, as the money is retained within the state. As soon as you pay a private company, the profits they make go elsewhere. I think ATOS are French, so some of the government money will be going out of the country.

 

Seems an obvious solution, we appear to be in the situation where everything ends up being outsourced, ok, maybe not a huge problem in itself but it ends up being outsourced to the above mentioned suspects, all of whom have shown themselves to be seriously lacking and in some cases involved in outright criminality.

 

I worked for one of them and it was a despressing time, luckily I didnt stay that long and left even before my probation was completed

[45002]

ATOS want out

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26287199

 

But what would replace it !

[antone]

Two threads on same topic merged.

[havinastella]

I'm sure they have made more than enough money from the UK treasury!

[rebel11]

Killed some people in the process.

 

'I'm sure they have made more than enough money from the UK treasury!'

 

 

[worried33]

wow this iain watson from the bbc guy has worked it out.

 

The government don't want the tests themselves - described by opponents as harsh and unfair - questioned. The tests have been and will continue to be reviewed.

 

Politically ministers want the focus to remain on the private company's performance - and not on their policy.

[Markb73]

Well it would seem the dwp already using diff people as I have had a letter from capita for an application for PIP which I haven't even filled in,,,,,,,,,start as they mean to go on hey ..........

ATOS shouldn't be allowed to opt out they should be disgraced out simple as and should be made pay back all the money of the people they lied and cheated out of benefits that they rightly deserved , then they should be made pay tax on top ....this will make whomever takes over from them think twice on the money making [problem] they had......

Good news though guys and gals, wish I could have come ....

[caro]

ATOS want out

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26287199

 

But what would replace it !

 

I think we can safely say it won't be doctors!

[antone]

I think we can safely say it won't be doctors!

 

Of course not! Why on earth would we trust mere doctors to make decisions about peoples' health?

[RaeUK]

... capita ...

I don't like to pull people up on their spelling, Markb, but you do realise you missed out the second letter - r - from that name?

[silverfox1961]

We don't seem to hear much about Capita. I know they are a bit player in the grand scheme of things but surely they should have a percentage of appeals too?

[Guest]

well that would make much better since RaeUK lol and a fitting name, aren't they the same outfit that tv licensing send out to check on license non payers? am sure they are the commission based company that do that, initiating legal proceedings against people whether need one or not I have heard lol......don't let them in if they come to your door. Heaven help us if they take over, whoever it is will be another bunch of you know whats. Re the recording assessment part? isn't that a decision made not by atos or ataloss....but by the DWP that claimants could have recorded assessments, so whoever took over it would be the same?.........I can see another battle commencing .............

[osdset]

We don't seem to hear much about Capita. I know they are a bit player in the grand scheme of things but surely they should have a percentage of appeals too?

I would hardly call Capita bit players, they administer council tax for many LA's, employ a good percentage of the bailiffs sent in to levy goods on council tax defaulters, and run TV licence 'enforcement'. Not exactly the ideal credentials to run WCA's but that won't stop HM Gov considering them for the contract.

[silverfox1961]

I should have been clearer. I meant in the capacity of the WCA, not the rest of the work they do.

[Lilly_Monroe]

Found this from April 2013 - seems they did mean to start out well.

The DWP are refusing to let Capita give claimants a recording of their personal independence payment (PIP) medical, even though Capita want to do so, a minister has revealed.

When Capita won the contract to carry out PIP medicals in the Wales and Central England, two issues stood out. One was Capita’s desire to carry out most medicals in claimants’ own homes, the other was their eagerness to record every medical and give the claimant a copy of the recording.