PIP ATOS (IAS) Health condition descriptions

Waylay

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has a recent copy of the paperwork that IAS (ATOS) Health Professionals are given for disabilities/health conditions (probably when they're training)? As far as I can tell, they have no training in chronic pain, which is shocking. I'm looking for chronic low back pain, sciatica, depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. 

Ty!

Yadnad

Waylay said:

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has a recent copy of the paperwork that IAS (ATOS) Health Professionals are given for disabilities/health conditions (probably when they're training)? As far as I can tell, they have no training in chronic pain, which is shocking. I'm looking for chronic low back pain, sciatica, depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. 

Ty!

Why would they need training in respect of disability/health issues?
They are not there to diagnose nor are they there to interpret.
They have some basic health qualification and that's all they need.

The computer asks the questions and they just tick the box that best describes what they think. The result is their opinion which to be honest is not related to any medical or health related issue.
An IT engineer could do the assessment.
Having some health education just helps sometimes.

Waylay

Because chronic pain is a syndrome, and involves a lot more than pain. My assessor clearly disbelieved me when I told him that it causes fatigue and a bunch of other things.

Yadnad

Waylay said:

Because chronic pain is a syndrome, and involves a lot more than pain. My assessor clearly disbelieved me when I told him that it causes fatigue and a bunch of other things.

I have heard said that chronic pain also causes depression - thankfully my last assessment read that I do not have any pain (because I take medication for it) and thus cannot conceivably be depressed.

Waylay

@Yadnad *rolls eyes* My God, that's insane.