ATOS centre still in acessible in Norwich

[chenrezig]

Harper dodges questions over delays in closing assessment centre

http://www.disabledgo.com/blog/2014/12/ ... nt-centre/



The minister for disabled people is facing awkward questions over why he has delayed responding to concerns about the government’s pledge to close an inaccessible assessment centre.

Mike Penning promised in June that the government would shut the centre used by government contractor Atos Healthcare in Norwich, but it is still being used for assessments of benefit eligibility.

Penning – who has since been replaced as minister by Mark Harper – was reported as describing the use of the building for work capability assessments as “wholly unacceptable”, after he heard that disabled people from the Norwich area were being forced by the access problems to make long journeys to alternative centres.

The decision to shut St Mary’s House in Duke Street, Norwich, followed a 30-month campaign led by disabled people, who highlighted the unfairness of a centre used to assess disabled people for their “fitness for work” that was not accessible to many of them.

But six months on, the government has failed to announce a timetable for moving assessments to a new, accessible venue in Norwich.

Mark Harrison, chief executive of Equal Lives (formerly Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People), who has led the campaign to force the centre’s closure, wrote to Harper in October.

But he has still not had a reply to his concerns, even though he has been told by a civil servant that a letter has been sitting on Harper’s desk awaiting his signature since at least the middle of last month.

Harrison said: “As far as we know they are still expecting disabled people to travel to other parts of the region and country because they have an inaccessible building.

“This government has got all its priorities wrong when it comes to disabled people.”

He said he believed the closure announcement was “a complete con” because both Atos and the landlord, Telereal Trillium, were “still being paid and making profits on the backs of disabled people”.

Telereal Trillium boasts on its website how the National Audit Office estimated that its “partnership” with DWP would save the government £780 million.

A spokeswoman for the company said: “We can confirm that there are on-going discussions to overcome the existing difficulties currently faced at St Mary’s House. However, we feel the DWP would be better placed to answer your query.”

An Atos spokeswoman said: “The [DWP] is in charge of estates in the WCA contract, not Atos Healthcare.”

DWP has so far failed to comment on why Harper has not yet sent the letter to Harrison.

[alison bown]

I have been waiting since march 2013 for an appointment all this time I have rang them once a week each week and still had no look I have been in touch with my MP and he has sent them e-mail which have been answered with the same thing we can't fit you in as there are no slots for you at this time ( what a wast of £500 million it has been,
my DLA has been readjust to $80.00 a mouth car until i have had them see me) even my GP has sent a letter to them and it now 2015 and I am still ringing them once a week will I have to die before it has been sorted out, STILL THE GOVERNMENT ARE SAVING MILLIONS ON NOT PAYING THE BENEFIT OUT , WHICH WOULD MAKE UP THE £500 MILLION WASTED ON ATOS AND THE CONTRACT IS NOW ENDING WELL BEFORE TIME WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN A NEW CONTRACT WITH A FRENCH BIGNESS. MY WITH IS MY CARER AND SHE WORKS DAY AND NIGHT TO KEEP ME SAFE ( THIS IS HER PAGE AND I Have had my say will any one help will all should go to London and stand are grounds for are rights thank you for this time , yours Mr D Bown