Immediately Stop Work Capability Assessments Press Release

STOP WORK CAPABILITY ASSESMENTS IN CURRENT FORM #BRAVEHEART #GPs #NHS #ATOS
Press release Friday 23rd March.




BLACK TRIANGLE ANTI-DEFAMATION CAMPAIGN IN DEFENCE OF DISABILITY RIGHTS PRESS RELEASE

John McArdle 0777 831 6875

info@blacktrianglecampaign.org

http://blacktrianglecampaign.org



Scotland's GP's call for an end to controversial 'fit for work' tick-box tests carried out by French IT company 'with immediate effect'



Scotland's GP's have today called to an end to the Government's controversial computer-based 'Work Capability Assessments' carried out by French IT multinational Atos Origin for the DWP with ''immediate effect':



http://www.bma.org.uk/images/slmc2011agenda_tcm41-212139.pdf
60 Lothian: That this conference, in respect of Work Capability Assessments (WCA) as performed by ATOS Healthcare, believes that:
i. the inadequate computer-based assessments that are used have little regard to the nature or complexity of the needs of long term sick and disabled persons
ii. the WCA should end with immediate effect and be replaced with a rigorous and safe system that does not cause avoidable harm to some of the weakest and most vulnerable in society



The Scottish-based disability rights and advocacy group Black Triangle was instrumental in getting the motion tabled at the Scottish Local Medical Committee's (SLMC) conference at Clydebank.



Dr. Stephen Carty who works as a GP in the Leith area of Edinburgh and who is an active member of the campaign said:



"I welcome the support of the Scottish LMC conference on this matter.

This sends a ray of hope to some of the weakest and most vulnerable in society.

It also sends a clear message to other representative bodies including the General Medical Council (GMC) of the significant concerns shared by many GPs across the country."



He said that "In my opinion the current contractual arrangements between the DWP and General Practice are unsustainable. The WCA as performed by ATOS is not an effective or safe method of determining "fitness to work" and this must be addressed."



He continued: "All doctors are duty bound by the GMC to report any system or process that may be harmful to patients. The WCA is a harmful process. Scottish GPs have spoken: the GMC cannot remain silent on this matter any longer"



John McArdle, a founding member of Black Triangle said:



"The scandal of these assessments has gone on far too long. As a grassroots disabled people's organisation we are over the moon that Scotland's GP's have spoken out so clearly and unequivocally in their condemnation. Our GP's recognise the severe and avoidable damage that is being done to sick and disabled people through this brutal, draconian and profoundly unjust testing regime as they see it every single day. It must be halted now – 'with immediate effect'.- before any further harm results and whilst the GMC launches a thorough investigation. They can no longer remain silent. They must act. "



--
Thanks

Jules


Comments

  1. Thank god there are still brave people who care about there fellow man, These are the people who should be running our country, and not the bankers we have now

    ReplyDelete

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