Atos vrs GP

[darren d]

Hi All
My GP has signed me off work but my DOM is telling me he is contacting Atos again to get me back to work before my Fit note expires.Atos did say they would call me back within 2 weeks and that was about a month ago and I have heard nothing from them.I am waiting for treatment for my condition and i feel that I am getting hassle to a certain extent from my Dom to return to work.So can Atos over rule your GP as I really have no idea how it works.Thank you in advance for any comments

[Pat Ostman]

Seeing as my line manager knew better than ATOS and my GP it is anyone's guess what medical prowess your overpaid DOM has.

Ask for your DOMS medical practising certificates, that normally stumps them.

As for ATOS, they say their advice is just that, advice. Unless, of course, they agree with them, then it's final.

[easter bunny]

I'm afraid RM will always accept the word of ATOS over your GP any day of the week .

However , one argument you should always use if the ATOS report is produced by a 'Practioner' rather than a qualified Doctor .

There is a hell of a difference...

[redissue]

My report was by an occupational health advisor.How would that stand against the advice of the two doctors that have examined me.Considering the atos one was a phone. call!

[daveyeff]

I'm afraid RM will always accept the word of ATOS over your GP any day of the week .

However , one argument you should always use if the ATOS report is produced by a 'Practioner' rather than a qualified Doctor .

There is a hell of a difference...

does ''gp'' not stand for general ''practitioner''

[fishtank]

4. If management have any authority to any time disregard medical opinion of
employee’s GP or occupational health adviser?

The line manager is responsible for the workplace, his team, and their health & safety.
Although GP’s and ATOS Healthcare provide important advice to support the decision
making process, the line manager is the person who makes the final decision when
managing sick absence cases.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h ... se_to_mana" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[General Mannerheim]

4. If management have any authority to any time disregard medical opinion of
employee’s GP or occupational health adviser?

The line manager is responsible for the workplace, his team, and their health & safety.
Although GP’s and ATOS Healthcare provide important advice to support the decision
making process, the line manager is the person who makes the final decision when
managing sick absence cases.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h ... se_to_mana" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

so they ARE all DR Kildares.

[blue1873]

4. If management have any authority to any time disregard medical opinion of
employee’s GP or occupational health adviser?

The line manager is responsible for the workplace, his team, and their health & safety.
Although GP’s and ATOS Healthcare provide important advice to support the decision
making process, the line manager is the person who makes the final decision when
managing sick absence cases.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h ... se_to_mana" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

so they ARE all DR Kildares.

Could be right there"General M" a lot of them still think and act as though we're still in the Sixties

[TeeferTiger]

ATOS tend to do whatever the fugg they like tbh. The ones I dealt with through RM were actually alright with me though tbf. The ones for the DWP are shocking!

[POSTMAN]

You can not go back to work while you have a sick note until it either expires or you go back to the DR's to be re examined ect as fit for work(signing off note)regardless of what ATOS says.

[redissue]

You can not go back to work while you have a sick note until it either expires or you go back to the DR's to be re examined ect as fit for work(signing off note)regardless of what ATOS says.

That's what i thought,i've seen three doctors now all agreeing that i am unfit for work.The last one quoted months of recovery at the very least.
I do have to go to the doctors each week but at least my DOM see that it's official and if it comes to IHR at least i can show that i have been trying to recover.

[markis]

Managers will only listen to ATOS, and ATOS over rule your GP or what is the point of referring you to them ? It is ATOS that say what you can and cannot do at work, but the way I see it is that RM use ATOS so they can get some sort of work out of you on the pretence of 'rehab' that ATOS report that is sent to your manager. If you go gainst the ATOs report DOM can say that your refusing a 'reasonable request' and that can go down any road of their choosing ultimately.

[redissue]

Had my 29 days why are'nt you at work letter today,to be fair my DOM is'nt being unreasonable as he's not chasing me back to work.
Had a chat with the DOM and he wants ATOS to check me in a medical not a phone call like the last time,he wasn't impressed with that.
If i'm able to go back to work i will be in the office from now on as it's obvious to them that i cannot deliver mail anymore.
Due to my condition i'm not capable of walking for 4hrs,can't walk for 10 mins at the moment!
Obviously the DOM could still say that IHR is a better option,but i imagine it's how the medical goes.Then again i don't trust any manager,so i would'nt be suprised if they get rid of me.

[poor postman]

I agree with all that has been said but what is the CWU doing about this Dom/Atos over ruling your GP ?
I believe any postman who has a health issue or is over 50 is on the hit list for dismissal.
The words used are just that, an exercise to cover all the health and safety regulations, when I have challenged
work issues at local level I have been told its a National Agreement between the Union and Royal Mail in practise
we know every office will not work the same. The abuse of Atos as a way to get sick people back to work while still
sick on the promise of 'light duties' needs to be investigated by CWU.

[Postal Postie II]

ATOS said to me...

"You can't be a postie any more, you are disabled".