Thursday 28 July 2011

The Independent and ATOS

I haven't done this for a while, but sometimes there are just so many good things to read, I need to share with you all.

If you missed this from Mark Steel in the Inde, you just have to read it now.  http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mark-steel/mark-steel-time-to-inflict-pain-on-the-terminally-ill-2326355.html

Just in case I haven't been quite scathing or sarcastic enough about the ridiculous nature of ESA, assessments, ATOS and the DWP, Mark fixed that for me!!

5 comments:

  1. I get his column through my feeds; I'd been wondering when he'd get round to this. Thanks Mark! The comments aren't too tramatising to read either, thanks to anyone from round these here parts who has added one.

    Ta Sue. Hope you're doing ok after the latest onslaught of headlines. Ugh, it's exhausting.

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  2. The sick and disabled benefits must be sacrificed in order to support these struggling companies’ profits.
    Higher energy prices boosted second-quarter profits at Royal Dutch Shell, Europe’s largest oil and gas company, by more than 77 per cent compared with the same period last year to £8bn.
    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7890d47a-b8df-11e0-bd87-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1TO9xVbbP

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  3. Hi all...
    yes i'm not sure how we are keeping on going but whatever happens at least the truths will be bare for others to see... we will not sink without a trace which is what i've been expecting...
    I live alone with chronic disabilities which exhaust, traumatise & terrify me & that's without all the extra terror put on me now...
    I am one of those on IB waiting to be transferred (or not) to ESA... I have relapsed through fear, stopped eating, afraid to spend a penny & am now living in a paralysed limbo...Doctors, Consultants, family & friends are not sure i will survive the process(es) & if i don't i intend to leave plenty of evidence as to why.. not that it will help me to face an uneccessary decline &/or death after all my trying...
    I am still (over years) coming to terms with the complexities of my disabilities... Am I now to be told that they are not life & mind threatening after all?.. no wonder my head is messed up again!...
    There are so many aspects to all this that it is a mountain of a task to let ordinary folk know what's really happening but every day the evidence is getting clearer & honed by all of you until it will sink in i hope...
    I have to believe that the majority of 'my' society would not wish to leave me to suffer like this if they really understood...
    I am not well enough to constantly gather evidence but it's all there in years of notes but what use is that if ATOS/DWP don't trust my consultants to be objective or even request their medical judgement???... I hope my doctors do care about me but certainly they would not lie for me...
    My epilepsy consultant says i 'am hanging on by my finegrtips & to concentrate on staying alive' but he can't write me a report unless requested & i must just use the care plan he sends to my GP...
    I feel heartbroken that i have over time opened up to my Gp & consultants & all the appointments have been concentrated on my health... but now i have to also discuss my health in terms of financial security & it's just too confusing!.. I'm terrified of losing my home & i froze last winter so instead of discussing my health the time is taken up with me totally distressed about the future... i've also gone back to being traumatised by my past because i'm now going to have to talk about disgusting things to strangers to explain about my disabilities if i'm put in the WRAG...
    After many years of misdiagnosis i was found starving & having serial seizures in a park... i hoped all that was behind me but i don't know now...
    If only they just contacted my GP or Consultants & accepted the indisputable evidence i would not be in this decline or require constant review!!...
    It's also heartbreaking to think that despite 'moving all the goalposts' i may still end up in the support group but others who need it may not & the WRAG is just despicable & will be impossible for thousands of people to meet the imposed obligations...
    Sorry for going on... I don't see my disability benefits as a right but a privilige agreed on & given me by a society that cares & that gave me strength to say well i've got to try hard to care for myself... was that an illusion?.. If it was it worked but maybe not enough people care now in which case i'll be better gone...the healthy people of our society are also having their hearts broken as this legacy will tear them apart too...
    best wishes to all... Nita

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  4. I wish he hadn't put this

    "The trouble is that these tribunals have cost £30m (and you'll laugh at this bit), and that money is paid by the Government, out of taxes.""

    It just gives the government ideas, next we'll have to pay for our own appeals.

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