Second Atos medical day before yesterday

I am reeling from the experience of my second "medical" in eighteen months (currently in Support Group after Appeal in March this year). The Atos premises were inaccessible (one of those manually operated lifts to the examination centre on the second floor!)

The interview (it is not an examination) was repetitive and at times downright prurient and had I not got my dignity and belief in my right to SG safely packed away from harm, I would have burst into exhausted, furious tears.

What I would like to know from the moderators is whether these interviews are ever filmed or recorded by Atos? I ask because the examiner was not, as I had remembered, typing for much of the time,(instead asked me loads of questions and "sympathised"and even joked rather too much for my liking!!!).I am therefore struggling to understand how they would have been able to complete the form correctly/accurately.My companion took copious notes for me so when I have recovered I will look over them and of course hang on to them until I hear back from DWP. To anyone else going to their exam' I would advise never go alone and keep as accurate a record as is possible.

My companion was invaluable to me..so supportive when I was completely vulnerable and not least because she could actually work the lift!

Very unsettling experience and quite rigvht to suggest to others they take a companion and have notes made.

I would also warn about responding to the humor of the assessor. If a person has mental health problems and goes along with the joking it could go badly. The assessor might just want to out the 'customer' at ease, but conclusions can be drawn even from this,

I've seen it in reports under the old system ' was able to smile and engage in humor '

Its easy to go along with a joke just to be helpful but it could distort impressions of social functioning or depth of depression and anxiety,

Worth thinking about.

See these articles about the recording of WCA medical assessments:-

Atos pilots audio recording of medicals.

DWP keeps result of recording medicals pilot secret.

Thanks for these. I had already seen them on the site.
My query was about Atos recording/filming without the claimant being aware. Given that my examiner was alone in the room with us and did not type for large portions of the 90 minute(!)interview, I wondered how the written report could be accurate.The only way would be for there to be another record.
I fully endorse the warning above about responding to "humour" or for that matter, "sympathy". I realised it was a strategy to get me talking, but it was unpleasantly familiar and incredibly patronising to be repeatedly called a "poor love" throughout. It could also be very dangerous and lead to misconceptions.

KateR wrote:

Thanks for these. I had already seen them on the site.
My query was about Atos recording/filming without the claimant being aware. Given that my examiner was alone in the room with us and did not type for large portions of the 90 minute(!)interview, I wondered how the written report could be accurate.The only way would be for there to be another record.
I fully endorse the warning above about responding to "humour" or for that matter, "sympathy". I realised it was a strategy to get me talking, but it was unpleasantly familiar and incredibly patronising to be repeatedly called a "poor love" throughout. It could also be very dangerous and lead to misconceptions.

Hi Kate

On a personal note I too would have felt patronised if spoken to like that.

I take it you don't have the report yet, when you do lets hope its accurate.

You could of course complaint about your treatment at the assessment.

I'm afraid we can not answer specific questions about your medical.

You may wish to contact your MP. If you don't know who they are see here -

Contacting your MP

Regards

Michael

90 minutes? That is a rather long medical!