Finally received medical report from Atos medical

Hi S,

I have also found this FOI request regarding ATOS HCP’s assessing claimants with neurological conditions, in particular, see this extract from the response to Q1. :

“As a general rule nurses can assess claimants diagnosed with peripheral neurological conditions (and this is the focus of the neurological assessment taught within the training). Claimants diagnosed with complex neurological conditions (involving the central nervous system) are seen by doctors. But each case can be discussed with HCPs who work on the Atos Healthcare Customer Service Desk at the time of assessment to ensure the most appropriate practitioner is assessing the claimant. “

Full FOI request is here :

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/127880/re...%20Response.pdf.html

The “what do they know ?" website can be a good source of information, which can be referenced, when needed, and I have noticed that there are further FOI’s with respect to neurological conditions, if you wish to have a look :

www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/dwp

bro58

Mrs Hurtyback wrote:

There are some problems that have to be seen by doctors, rather than other HCP's. However, I am not sure whether the details are in the public domain.

There is some information in the public domain.

If you go to

Freedom of Information Request abotut neurological WCAs

You will see a query about who examines claimants with neurological conditions, together with an answer by the DWP which includes a list of those conditions which they think need examining by a doctor and those which can be looked at by a doctor.

There is then a follow-up query which says that, basically, the list they give is subject to alteration as they go on and that a decision in any particular case is to be made in the "pre-board check" stage of the claim.

There is also a comment by another person, saying that they had a slightly different list (shown) when they put the same query to the DWP.

The real answer seems to be that ATOS will decide who they want to consider as requiring a doctor and who doesn't, and further that there are only a few cases where the matter is so clear-cut that the claimant can legitimately object to having a nurse pass judgement on neurological matters.

Obviously this answer concentrates on neurological issues and other conditions which require a doctor are not necessarily listed here. Presumably further FoI requests might elicit more lists, but the general, "It all depends on who looks at the claim when it comes in," attitude probably applies across the board.

I suspect their judgement may also depend on whether they have a shortage of doctors.

carruthers wrote:

Mrs Hurtyback wrote:

There are some problems that have to be seen by doctors, rather than other HCP's. However, I am not sure whether the details are in the public domain.

There is some information in the public domain.

If you go to

Freedom of Information Request abotut neurological WCAs

You will see a query about who examines claimants with neurological conditions, together with an answer by the DWP which includes a list of those conditions which they think need examining by a doctor and those which can be looked at by a doctor.

There is then a follow-up query which says that, basically, the list they give is subject to alteration as they go on and that a decision in any particular case is to be made in the "pre-board check" stage of the claim.

There is also a comment by another person, saying that they had a slightly different list (shown) when they put the same query to the DWP.

The real answer seems to be that ATOS will decide who they want to consider as requiring a doctor and who doesn't, and further that there are only a few cases where the matter is so clear-cut that the claimant can legitimately object to having a nurse pass judgement on neurological matters.

Obviously this answer concentrates on neurological issues and other conditions which require a doctor are not necessarily listed here. Presumably further FoI requests might elicit more lists, but the general, "It all depends on who looks at the claim when it comes in," attitude probably applies across the board.

I suspect their judgement may also depend on whether they have a shortage of doctors.

Hi c,

I have already pointed the OP towards "whatdotheyknow" on this post prior to your own.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...imit=6&start=6#92619

bro58

bro

Oops I didn't see that there was more on page 2 before I sent my reply to MHB about what is (I think) the same FoI answer.

Sorry!

BTW, there is in the supplementary question a bit which is worth noticing:

Atos Healthcare assesses each condition individually. Presence in the ICD10 neurological category is not a criteria for inclusion in the neurological list.

( What constitutes a neurological condition )
This one seems aimed at those with M.E. since its presence in the ICD10 neurological list is a major issue between those with the disease and those keen to see it reclassified as a "bio-psycho-social" "disorder".

[[Note to mods: I am doing something which may be submitting the same post twice. My internet connection is playing up and I don't know if this post has already gone in.

Also note to bro: I wrote the original version of this before seeing your note about my duplication - the perils of slow connections - internet and brain alike.]]

bro58 wrote:
Hi c,

I have already pointed the OP towards "whatdotheyknow" on this post prior to your own.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...imit=6&start=6#92619

bro58[/quote]
P.S. I think the link I give is slightly later than the one you quote and has some additional info.

carruthers wrote:

bro

Oops I didn't see that there was more on page 2 before I sent my reply to MHB about what is (I think) the same FoI answer.

Sorry!

BTW, there is in the supplementary question a bit which is worth noticing:

Atos Healthcare assesses each condition individually. Presence in the ICD10 neurological category is not a criteria for inclusion in the neurological list.

( What constitutes a neurological condition )
This one seems aimed at those with M.E. since its presence in the ICD10 neurological list is a major issue between those with the disease and those keen to see it reclassified as a "bio-psycho-social" "disorder".

[[Note to mods: I am doing something which may be submitting the same post twice. My internet connection is playing up and I don't know if this post has already gone in.

Also note to bro: I wrote the original version of this before seeing your note about my duplication - the perils of slow connections - internet and brain alike.]]

No problem c

I understand that you are only trying to be helpful to the OP.

To much correct information in better than no/incorrect information.

bro58