Benefit tests plan revealed after blunder

Social affairs correspondent

Thursday 25 October 2012

The company hired to assess the eligibility of disabled people for benefits in Scotland and Northern England is planning to employ just 10 doctors to help carry out medical tests, the Government has inadvertently revealed.

Custom byline text:

Stephen Naysmith

Atos won the contract to check claims for the new Personal Independence Payments with bid documents that hinted at concerns about its ability to recruit enough medical staff to carry out checks on tens of thousands of people formerly receiving disability allowances.

Earlier this year, Scots GPs voted in favour of a motion calling for an end to "inadequate" Atos medical assessments for a different benefit, the Employment Support Allowance.Some details of the tender documents for the bid area covering Scotland, and another English region, have been blacked out. However, these redacted sections were not removed and can be read by copying the information into a different computer programme.Describing "key risks" to its proposals, Atos highlights the fact that HPs (Healthcare Practitioners) "may decide they do not want to participate in the programme".The documents, now removed from Government websites, also show Atos plans to employ 50 physiotherapists for every one medical doctor involved in the scheme.There are around 3.2 million people across the UK who receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and disability groups estimate 500,000 will lose out when PIP are introduced. Disability campaigners have accused the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a major blunder in publishing the details. By the time they dis-appeared, activists and others had made copies and circulated them.Earlier this month, Atos revealed it is subcontracting the responsibility for assessing DLA claimants to see if they are eligible for the new benefit to Salus, the occupational health arm of NHS Lanarkshire. How-ever, the Atos winning bid for Scotland and Northern England states that HPs involved will include 500 physiotherapists, 200 nurses 40 occupational therapists and just 10 doctors.It states the staffing mix was based on considerations including the "cost differentials between the types of HPs ... and the desire for this work".Glasgow GP Margaret McCartney has been an out-spoken critic of the medical tests for benefit claimants carried out by Atos to date.She said physiotherapists were highly trained professionals but added: "I would be concerned that those carrying out the tests won't have been exposed to the complexity and the multitude of problems many patients face. Given past problems, I would want to see the evidence that Atos' assessment process is safe and effective, rather than causing more harm to patients."In its bid document the company also states: "Atos has a successful record of engagement with Claimant Representative Groups" and lists a number including the group Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC).This provoked a furious response from the group, who accused the company of lying, saying in a statement: "DPAC want to make it very clear we are not, and will never be, involved with Atos except as challengers to their process, which leaves 73 people per week dead through taking their own lives or through being disabled/ill and which leaves others without income."DPAC are seeking legal advice and will be challenging Atos claims in their PIP tender that they have consulted with us."A DWP spokesman said DLA was an outdated benefit and did not provide for ongoing assessment of claimants.He added: "We think it's right that Atos will be working with local NHS services with existing roots in their local communities and we have always said the new PIP assessment will be carried out by a broad range of health professionals, including doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists."This is not a diagnostic assessment, it considers the impact of health conditions and impairments on individuals' daily lives. A broad range of health professionals have the skills to do this."Atos did not respond to a request from The Herald for comment.

Contextual targeting label:

Health

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Benefit tests plan revealed after blunder

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED