Atos decision under fire

A Douglas man with serious spinal problems has hit out at the Department of Social Care after its contractor Atos Healthcare said he was fit to work and stopped his sickness benefits.

Andrew Clegg’s spinal damage causes him constant pain and led his GP and surgeons to conclude he wouldn’t be fit to work until he’s had more surgery.

But after an hour-long assessment with Atos, he’s been told he’ll lose his benefits and faces the prospect of appealing or losing a significant amount of family income.

He describes the assessment itself as 'woeful':

Atos was recently defended by Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw for its work in the Isle of Man, despite concern in the UK about the process the company uses.