ATOS Facing Investigation

[bluebottle]

ATOS is facing an investigation following a ruling by the Upper Tier Tribunal, which has the same status as the High Court, following an appeal by a benefit claimant with mental health issues whose Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was carried out by a physiotherapist.

Also, the DWP is planning to bring in a second firm to carry out WCAs. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...-atos-dwp-test

It looks very much that the Tories' plan to get everyone off benefits may well come crashing down around their ears, as well as those of New Labour who introduced it. the answer is very simple and that is to seek opinion from those who know a claimant's medical history better than anyone - their GP and hospital consultant (where applicable). Chris Grayling's claims of putting GPs in an awkward position was nothing than smoke and mirrors. The Tories simply wanted GPs and hospital consultants taken out of the equation so they could bully claimants.

An e-petition has been started on Gov.uk at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/50190

[charitynjw]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

ATOS is facing an investigation following a ruling by the Upper Tier Tribunal, which has the same status as the High Court, following an appeal by a benefit claimant with mental health issues whose Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was carried out by a physiotherapist.

Also, the DWP is planning to bring in a second firm to carry out WCAs. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...-atos-dwp-test

It looks very much that the Tories' plan to get everyone off benefits may well come crashing down around their ears, as well as those of New Labour who introduced it. the answer is very simple and that is to seek opinion from those who know a claimant's medical history better than anyone - their GP and hospital consultant (where applicable). Chris Grayling's claims of putting GPs in an awkward position was nothing than smoke and mirrors. The Tories simply wanted GPs and hospital consultants taken out of the equation so they could bully claimants.

An e-petition has been started on Gov.uk at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/50190

That's far too much like common sense, mate - not within 'their' remit!
& if I were cynical, well, what's 'in it' for 'them'?

[bluebottle]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

That's far too much like common sense, mate - not within 'their' remit!
& if I were cynical, well, what's 'in it' for 'them'?

Cabbage Patch Doll Cameron's "cunning plan" is unravelling before his eyes and IDS has been shown up for the arrogant, out-of-touch tit that he is. No-one is fooled by what Cameron says anymore. Their rhetoric is so transparent, everyone can see through it. They're finished and they know it. All they are doing now is clinging on by their fingertips, hoping they are not forced out before 2015.

[CleverClogs]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

Cabbage Patch Doll Cameron's "cunning plan" is unravelling before his eyes and IDS has been shown up for the arrogant, out-of-touch tit that he is. No-one is fooled by what Cameron says anymore. Their rhetoric is so transparent, everyone can see through it. They're finished and they know it. All they are doing now is clinging on by their fingertips, hoping they are not forced out before 2015.

For the latest "spin" on this, see what the useless Mark Hoban had to say:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/h...ity-assessment

[labman]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

The quality of the reports produced by Atos following an assessment are graded A-C and the audit demonstrated that the number of C-grade reports was around 41% between October 2012 and March 2013.

A ‘C’ grade report does not mean the assessment was wrong, and the recommendation given in a ‘C’ grade report may well be correct, but, for example, their reasoning for reaching that recommendation may lack the level of detail demanded by the DWP.


So what grade is given when they do get it wrong, as I'd bet a fair proportion of that 41% were incorrect decisions? Would they not get more respect for telling the truth? Absolutely disgraceful!

[bluebottle]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

The quality of the reports produced by Atos following an assessment are graded A-C and the audit demonstrated that the number of C-grade reports was around 41% between October 2012 and March 2013.

A ‘C’ grade report does not mean the assessment was wrong, and the recommendation given in a ‘C’ grade report may well be correct, but, for example, their reasoning for reaching that recommendation may lack the level of detail demanded by the DWP.


So what grade is given when they do get it wrong, as I'd bet a fair proportion of that 41% were incorrect decisions? Would they not get more respect for telling the truth? Absolutely disgraceful!

And lose their "blood money", i.e. taxpayers' money? Not on your life! They are like most of the other parasitic firms growing fat on taxpayers' money and doing next to bugger-all to justify paying it to them. Take the private railway companies and bus operators. They are receiving shedloads of taxpayers' cash and not providing the service they have agreed to provide. Get the picture?

[labman]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

Get the picture?

I already had it! Remember what my brother is?

[bluebottle]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

I already had it! Remember what my brother is?

Suppose that's what comes of me having a trashed nervous system. Memory is affected at times.

It's strange, but a lot of things seem to be coming out about these firms who hold government contracts ripping off the taxpayer lately. I know that when I was a policeman, we investigated a contract cleaning firm that had a contract to clean government buildings all over the UK. Not only were they submitting fraudulent invoices for work they had not carried out, but double invoicing for work they had carried out. There was also evidence of time-keeping fraud. The total amount of taxpayers' money the contract cleaning firm had defrauded totalled £970,000.

One Thursday, the force raided various locations in England, Wales and Scotland and a number of people were arrested, including the directors of the firm.

[labman]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

The total amount of taxpayers' money the contract cleaning firm had defrauded totalled £970,000.

One Thursday, the force raided various locations in England, Wales and Scotland and a number of people were arrested, including the directors of the firm.

I suspect that is only a tiny proportion of what would be discovered if all contracts were put under scrutiny.

On the positive side, my brother no longer gets first class travel everywhere courtesy of us; the poor thing has to slum it with the rest of us paupers in second class.

[bluebottle]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

I suspect that is only a tiny proportion of what would be discovered if all contracts were put under scrutiny.

On the positive side, my brother no longer gets first class travel everywhere courtesy of us; the poor thing has to slum it with the rest of us paupers in second class.

That was just one firm. My gut-feeling is that if all government contracts involving private-sector companies, including PPP and PFI contracts, were subjected to forensic scrutiny, the level of fraud would go into billions.

[CleverClogs]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

I already had it! Remember what my brother is?

A cripple? :crutch:

[CleverClogs]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

I know that when I was a policeman, we investigated a contract cleaning firm that had a contract to clean government buildings all over the UK. Not only were they submitting fraudulent invoices for work they had not carried out, but double invoicing for work they had carried out. There was also evidence of time-keeping fraud. The total amount of taxpayers' money the contract cleaning firm had defrauded totalled £970,000.

One Thursday, the force raided various locations in England, Wales and Scotland and a number of people were arrested, including the directors of the firm.

Was anyone convicted?

[bluebottle]

Re: ATOS Facing Investigation

The directors were jailed for Obtaining Money by Deception, Making A False Instrument, Using A False Instrument, Using A False Instrument With Intent to Deceive and Conspiracy to Defraud. The offences occurred prior to 2006 when the Fraud Act came into force. They were also disqualified from acting as company directors for life. The supervisors and cleaners were fined or given suspended sentences. For once, justice was done and seen to be done. Usually, the foot soldiers get shat on and the high-ups get away with it. Not in this case. The trial judge, quite rightly, ripped into the directors of the firm telling them that they had betrayed the trust not only of the public on whose behalf they were working, but had jeopardised the chances of other contract cleaning firms being given contracts to clean government buildings. The government went back to using in-house cleaners again shortly after the trial when someone realised it was cheaper to keep cleaning in-house.