The executive in charge of running medical assessments for benefits claims at Atos Healthcare has offered an apology to those long-term sick it has incorrectly assessed as being "fit for work".
In
her first public interview, Lisa Coleman, the manager who oversees the
firm's contract with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), was
asked by BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme if she would like to
apologise. She replied: "If we get something wrong then I'm very happy
to say sorry."
Although work capability tests were
introduced by the Labour government in 2008, the coalition has rapidly
expanded their use. However, Atos – which last year processed almost
20,000 incapacity benefit claimants a week – has faced criticism after
it emerged that a third (37%) of decisions appealed were successfully
overturned.
Full Article on Guardian Society
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