From the Londonderry Sentinel, 17 June 2013.
ATOS Healthcare is rejecting requests for home assessments even if a claimant’s GP supports one.
Asked “why Atos Healthcare can refuse a home visit for work capability assessments, even when a GP supports an application,” the Benefits Minister Nelson McCausland said Atos’ own health expert can disregard a GP’s opinion and demand claimants show up at local test centres.
He said: “Claimants requesting a home assessment are required to provide medical evidence to support their request.
“The information provided is considered by a healthcare professional who will decide whether a home visit is necessary whilst home visits are usually only carried out when a claimant is unable to leave their home for any reason, it is apparent that they are able to attend GP/hospital appointments, then they will normally be expected to attend an assessment centre for their medical assessment appointment.”
If they feel that they are competent to overrule a GP who is familiar with the patient and their condition then they should also be held accountable for the consequences. This should mean that the “healthcare professional” faces investigations by their professional body with the possibility of being struck off if they cause a claimant’s condition to worsen. Atos/DWP should also face a financial penalty in these situations.