Bit of a scavenging post this one – I noticed this turn up on Samedifference’s blog, and even then it dates back some way.
For US readers (who have been turning up more and more recently), we should first give some background….
From Wikipedia:
Following the implementation of the Welfare Reform Act 2012, an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, welfare benefits paid to people with disabilities in the United Kingdom are subject to rigorous assessments to determine claimants’ level of disability and ability to work.[32][33]These assessments are known in the UK as a Work Capability Assessment or WCA, and Atos has received extensive allegations of severe distress and also widespread deaths amongst those assessed. Leading charities have demanded the assessment be withdrawn.[34][35]
Today we are going to look at the contract between Atos Healthcare and the Department of work and pensions, it’s dated 2005 and was retrieved as part of a Freedom of Information request made in 2009. It’s worth looking into in detail, partly because I believe people should look at source materials as much as possible, but also because it offers a bizarre range of little insights into the way that some people’s minds work, my ‘favourite’ is this one…
1. Unsuitable for calling to a Medical Examination Centre.
Age >75 years Age <12 years Both Blind and Deaf Registered Blind (needs to be seen in own environment) Cases accepted under the Special Rules defining Terminal illness. Alzheimers Amputation of both legs Asperger's Autistic Spectrum Disorder / Autism2. Reference to Medical Advisor required for advice.
AIDS Astrocytoma [...]3. Tentatively invite to Medical Examination Centre.
Agoraphobia (offer taxi) Anorexia Nervosa Ataxia [...]4. Invite to Medical Examination Centre.
Alcohol Dependence Anaemia Angina Ankylosing Spondylitis [...]
(I limited to just the ‘A’s to save space)
Did you catch it? If you are dealing with someone who is unable to work due to Agoraphobia, then you should still invite them to a medical centre… but you should offer them a Taxi… What a strange view of the world some people have…
In addition to that little chestnut – one of my issues here is that this required a freedom of information request to release… and my thinking is this: why are such things *ever* private? What use does it serve to conceal this from the public?
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