Atos are the Information Technology (IT) company paid £100m per year by David Cameron and the ConDem UK Government to determine whether disabled people are “fit to work”. In their own words and from their own website, they describe their company as “Atos SE (Societas europaea) is an international information technology services company with annual 2012 revenue of EUR 8.8 billion and 76,400 employees in 47 countries. Serving a global client base, it delivers hi-tech transactional services, consulting and technology services, systems integration and managed services. With its deep technology expertise and industry knowledge, it works with clients across the following market sectors: Manufacturing, Retail, Services; Public, Health & Transports; Financial Services; Telecoms, Media & Technology; Energy & Utilities.”
This kind of health assessment process makes a mockery, not only of the disabilities UK people suffer from, but also of the professional abilities of the doctors who have medically assessed their patients needs and health conditions for years.
Atos have threatened to sue the hosts of sites that challenge their decisions regards to peoples disabilities and as a result, a lot of these sites have since closed down, taking with them the public forums largely visited by those who have been wrongly deemed as “fit for work”. First, they take away their means to survive day to day and then they add insult to injury by taking away their support networks.
I personally don’t hold Atos completely responsible for the situation they currently find themselves in…afterall, they have been employed by the UK Government, who I believe are allowing Atos to be the scapegoats for their bad decisions. Yet I do believe they need to take some responsibility for the way they treat others when attempting to conceal the truth of the situation. I also believe they should reconsider their connection with the UK Government. If Atos, by their own admission, have an annual income of EUR 8.8 billion, then what is £100m to them, if not a liability in the long term?
David Cameron makes an outward show of disgust when discussing the breeches to Human Rights in the Middle East, yet here he is in the UK treating his own citizens in an equally atrocious manner. If you were the boss of Atos, would you wish to be linked so directly to the despicable Mr Cameron?
It is not only websites. Due to the governments cut backs charities and support groups are floundering also. There are fewer and fewer things that empower and enrich the daily lives of people with disabilities they are becoming isolated. Organizations run by councils have been closed, transport for the elderly and infirm to do their basic shopping has been dropped and that is on top of benefits that have been drastically cut despite David Cameron’s promise to protect those in greatest need.
Yes Mr Cameron you are judged on how you care for those in greatest need – shame on you!
He has proven that his promises mean nothing. A man can be judged by the power of his word…David Cameron is nothing. We didn’t elect these people into power, they got there by default. We need a left wing socialist party to give voice to the average people of the UK…but that could take years to establish and at the rate this government is throwing out new bills and policies, we dont have years. This government are attempting to depopulate the UK of all the people it assumes to be a “drain” on our resources…it’s typical of the Tories. And of course, Labour are now right wing too…cowardice rules in parliament these days. I don’t know how to solve this crisis or if it even can be solved…all I know, is that together, we have to try.
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good read!