A MAN who was declared fit for work and taken off incapacity benefit was rushed into hospital a month after the decision.
John Whitelaw, aged 62, of Whalley Road, Whitefield, says the Atos Healthcare assessment which decided his eligibility for incapacity benefit was not carried out correctly and omitted key symptoms.
He says he told the assessor of his symptoms on May 3, including depression, dizziness, breathlessness, and lethargy, in addition to a ischemic heart disease.
Mr Whitelaw was admitted to Fairfield Hospital, Bury, on June 2 after collapsing at home with a low blood pressure. He is now recovering after having two bleeds in his stomach clipped.
He said: “How could they make such a mistake and pronounce me fit for work and three weeks later I collapse?
“They ignored my depression which has been treated for years.
“I was declared fit in relation to my heart disease, but nothing for the rest of my symptoms.” The decision has not adversely affected Mr Whitelaw financially, as he now receives a pension from his former place of employment and from the state, but he says he wants to highlight the issue.
Atos Healthcare provide disability assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and claimants are sometimes required to undergo an assessment to decide on their entitlement to benefit.
Mr Whitelaw worked as a bus driver in Manchester for 10 years, and suffered a heart attack in 2005 while driving but managed to stop the vehicle safely and radio in for help.
He has also been a full-time carer since 1996 for his 52-year-old wife, Susan, who suffers from Neurofibromatosis type one, which causes multiple tumours that affect the nervous system.
The DWP says that Mr Whitelaw should submit evidence to them in writing to review his case.
A spokesperson for the DWP said: “A decision on whether someone is well enough to work is taken following a thorough assessment and after consideration of all the supporting medical evidence provided by the claimant.
From ‘This is Lanarcshire’, 13th July 2012:
