... AS A NATION ROLLS BACK TO THE 1930s ... ONE DWP DEATH AT A TIME...
Friday, August 16, 2013
Unholy row at HQ of Atos
Protesters gathered dressed as cardinals, popes, St Bernadette, Lazarus and
Jesus Christ himself outside Atos
Protest outside the Port of Liverpool building
over austerity cuts
Mann Island in Liverpool was transformed into Lourdes for a demonstration
outside the offices of a firm accused of helping the government strip many
seriously ill people of their sickness benefits.
Protesters gathered dressed as cardinals, popes, St Bernadette, Lazarus and
Jesus Christ himself, claiming the company, Atos, seemed to be ‘performing
miracles’ on sick people.
The Merseyside People’s Assembly (MPA) claim people with the most
debilitating illnesses – including those on their deathbeds – were being forced
off disability benefit and onto other benefits.
An investigation by the ECHO in 2011 revealed that a third of Merseysiders
who appealed the decision they were fit to work managed to have the company’s
assessment overturned.
But the government and Atos claim that actually only 1% of appeals that are
successful are as a result of their assessments being wrong.
Andrea Wall, from MPA, said: “People with terminal illnesses are being told
they’re fit to work.”
Terry Craven, who attended dressed as the Pontiff, added: “Either Atos are
performing miracles every day or there’s something seriously wrong.”
A spokesman for the DWP said: “We are committed to help thousands of people who are fit to move from benefits and back into work, while giving unconditional support to those who are most in need.
“We are working to make sure the assessment is fair and effective and it’s in everyone’s interest to get the system right.”
A spokesman for Atos, which conducts appeals in the Port of Liverpool Building, added: “We recognise that the assessment process can be stressful and endeavour to treat everyone professionally and with respect during what we understand is a difficult process.”
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