How many people can you take to a ATOS medical

Re; legal right to record medical, see Benefits News dated 8 December 2012.

"…Legal advice has been obtained to confirm that the recording of medical assessments for claimants MUST BE allowed without unreasonable obstructions . The majority of the claimants who request that their medical assessment is recorded, do not have the financial means to provide the specified recording equipment "

In my opinion this would apply to both ESA or DLA medical assessments.

In best interest terms, I shall demand if it is deemed that I require a medical when I next fill out the wonderful simple forms to have present both my husband who is my full time carer and a note taker to cover all eventualities.
However what one demands and what one gets is two diferent things!!!

Gordon wrote:

ATOS being unable to record your assessment does not consitute Good Cause for not attending, whilst the DWP and ATOS allow the appointment to be re-arranged once without fault, a second occurence will result in the claimants file being returned to the DWP with the string possibility of the claim being closed as a result.

Gordon

Some Atos offices will, I believe, be prepared to re-arrange an interview on their responsibility, whilst they get hold of recording equipment.

One person tells of his experience,

I was then told that my assessment could not keep getting rescheduled and I may have to attend an unrecorded assessment. I then requested the audio-recording as a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act. I phoned them a few days before my assessment and it had been arranged.

( www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/wca_postp...cord#incoming-335003

Everyone seems to agree that you have to be prepared to be bloody-minded, though.

This Freedom of Information request has more stuff well worth anyone's attention.

pusscatsmum wrote:

In best interest terms, I shall demand if it is deemed that I require a medical when I next fill out the wonderful simple forms to have present both my husband who is my full time carer and a note taker to cover all eventualities.
However what one demands and what one gets is two diferent things!!!

Can I come PCM, we'll have a pinic, the ATOS HCP won't be invited though !!!

bro58

Jim Allison wrote:

Re; legal right to record medical, see Benefits News dated 8 December 2012.

"…Legal advice has been obtained to confirm that the recording of medical assessments for claimants MUST BE allowed without unreasonable obstructions . The majority of the claimants who request that their medical assessment is recorded, do not have the financial means to provide the specified recording equipment "

In my opinion this would apply to both ESA or DLA medical assessments.

Great to have your view on this one Jim.

My post, BTW, was written and submitted before I saw yours. I think a link to the FoI site - looking especially at the pdf documents which the DWP eventually coughed up - is highly relevant.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/131400/re...h/4/RFP%2027.PDF.pdf

(BTW it looks as though you have to be a bit persistent to get this link up sometimes, but it does work eventually - maybe they're getting lots of hits.)