The poor woman

[abstibus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...hern-ireland-19433535
This is just terrible.

[ummmm]

Sad...and very sad that they made her final months so difficult.

I was very impressed with the benefits system when my Dad was diagnosed but his was terminal so he didn't have to be assessed.

[marval]

That is sad, she should not have had that worry while she was so ill.

[NOX]

It is indeed. Anyone diagnosed with terminal cancer should not have the additional stress of this appalling company being inflicted on them:(

[daffy654]

Poor woman, having to spend her final months fighting for what she was entitled to. ATOS are really not fit for purpose. It should be down to an individual's GP/consultant to do the report for disability benefits.

[ummmm]

Has it recently changed then? We only had to send in a letter from dads consultant.

Was it because breast cancer can be treated so is not seen as terminal?

[Sqad]

\\\Ms Burns had described the medical test as a "joke".\\\

Medical Appeal tribunals ARE a joke.

At one time they consisted of a chairman who was usually a lawyer or Barrister and 4 doctors. The doctors were poorly paid, untrained in assessing disabilities and it was a boring job, but fine for a bit of "pocket money."

Then this was deemed to be too expensive and it was reduced to a chairman and 2 doctors.

On many occasions one complained to the Chairman\ Chairwoman that the appellant's problem was outside the expertise, but was quickly told to "get on with the job."

If one had 50 doctors to assess the disability of an appellant, then one would get 50 different ratings of disability.

It IS a joke, but a good source of "pocket money" for the members of the Tribunal.

[Postdog]

Can't believe this company is sponsoring the Paralympics of all things. Maybe it's a ploy to "justify" how just because someone has no arms or legs or whatever they can still do things to earn a living.

[abstibus]

Did anyone see the programme where a GP volunteered for training in the new assessment process? I had to turn it off.
It was plain to see that even the doctor giving the training was upset by what she had to do as prescribed by the regulations. She was a fully-qualified doctor in her own country but was unable to practise here.
What really got me was the 'digital flexibility' or some such term. This meant that someone who only had use of one finger was deemed capable of work (pushing a button).
Another woman who had avoided using a wheelchair, as she wanted to stay as mobile as her condition and pain allowed, was told she could work from a wheelchair. She was a former ski instructor.
I know that there are so many people with severe disabilities and/or illnesses who are just lumped in with the lead-swingers.
I also know that many GPs have been threatened, intimidated and bullied into recommending DLA.
I know that there are perfectly fit people in this town who have been benefiting for years.
I know that the whole system is deeply flawed.

[wiltsman]

To some extent it seems that untrained staff has been sent out over the years to determine whether patients are fit to work. I remember years ago when the authorities sent out a retired doctor to assess my late wife's incapacity.

He came just as my wife had started her home dialysis. It quickly became apparent he had no knowledge of renal patients because as he asked his questions he became annoyed at the noise coming from the dialysis machine and said, 'Can't you turn it off?'

Now, if we had turned it off, it would have gone into alarm mode, and I would have quickly had to grab an emergency handle and wind the blood going through the machine back into her body before it cooled. We would then have to strip everything down and do a cleaning routine before taking over half an hour to set everything up once more and then start the four hour dialysis session up again.

Why did they send someone out to us that had no knowledge of renal patients?

It would seem we haven't progressed much over the years.

[MadFerret]

ummmm, All have to go in one person who had his bowel removed (cancer) was in for his test less than 2 weeks after leaving hospital.

I agree it is a joke as i have been seen by a nurse who did not know what my tablets are taken for and that was her specialist field, even my doctor shook his head when i told him what went on.

[ummmm]

Thanks. I think then that the reason my experience was different was because my dads cancer was untreatable.

[MadFerret]

ummmm the rules have all changed

[youngmafbog]

The rules had to change due to the huge numbers of false claimants. Unfortunately you once again have the 'Jobsworths' not applying common sense and people such as this woman get caught in the middle.

[Jan1957]

Following my assessment with ATOS in June I got a letter from the benefit people last week saying my benefit has changed and I have now been placed in the "work related activity group" despite the fact I am on the waiting list for my 7th operation on my ankle in six years and also receiving bereavement counselling for depression. This means I have to take part in "work-focused interviews" to continue to receive my benefit, which means getting a taxi to and from the Job Centre out of my £99 per week benefit every time. My operation is going to take six months to a year to recover from! It's bloody madness, why don't they go after the work-shy people who have never worked. I worked for 35 years and have paid into the system. I am appealling against the decision too but god knows how long it will take.

[emmie]

sad but inevitable, this ATOS lark is a scam. Paid billions to get people back to work, yet the methods used are nothing short of scandalous.

[emmie]

have added comments on another thread about ATOS, mine and others experiences, would make your hair curl, if not fall out.

[Jan1957]

Yes, have heard other's stories. Mine wasn't even done by a doctor but by a nurse!

[emmie]

Jan, mine too, and have had this wretched nightmare hanging over me for 12 months, and still not finished.