Recording at assessment. Current position??

Naturally, being horrified about the reports by people who say that
what they said at their assessment differed from what the medical
professional reported, I have looked into Atos's offer about
recording on:
blog.atoshealthcare.com/2012/12/how-to-r...recorded-assessment/
(I received Incap Ben. and will receive an esa50 in due course).
However, the offer on this page also says that if the equipment isn't available,
the assessment will still have to go ahead anyway which of course is ridiculous as
I can see no valid reason for why there should ever be an equipment shortage.
Does this 'shortage' often happen at this moment in time? (The last reference I can
find about this subject on this site was in July).
Is a recording worth requesting? Does it make you look like a trouble-maker and
cause aggressiveness/hostility?
If ATOS cannot provide a machine, then the ATOS page mentioned above
indicates that I can take my own. Do I read it correctly?
What is 'the required standard' of the claimant's recording device which is
mentioned? Is this a bog-standard recorder I can buy in Currys or something
special that just happens to prevent people being able to use their own machine
(in which case the assessment will go ahead unrecorded despite the claimant's
wishes, if ATOS doesn't provide the facility).
If the claimant can use an ordinary machine, I do not understand why everyone
doesn't record their assessment so the problem of two different versions of what
is said would not arise.

Any comments that help would be appreciated.

D

davidkent wrote: If ATOS cannot provide a machine, then the ATOS page mentioned above
indicates that I can take my own. Do I read it correctly?
What is 'the required standard' of the claimant's recording device which is
mentioned? Is this a bog-standard recorder I can buy in Currys or something
special that just happens to prevent people being able to use their own machine
(in which case the assessment will go ahead unrecorded despite the claimant's
wishes, if ATOS doesn't provide the facility).
If the claimant can use an ordinary machine, I do not understand why everyone
doesn't record their assessment so the problem of two different versions of what
is said would not arise.

Any comments that help would be appreciated.

D

I'm sure you will not be surprised to learn that the standard of machine that the claimant would have to provide is such that few people would have access to it! I can't remember exactly but we are talking about a machine that can be professionally calibrated and make 2 copies of the interview.

I don't think the situation has changed regarding recording f2f interviews. DWP/ATOS still has few machines that break fairly often because they have to be transported between assessment centres. However, in my opinion, there is no reason why the claimant should not request recording. If nothing else, it should ensure that the HPC accurately records what has occurred during the appointment.

Many thanks
My god, what a complete farce this all is! The way the ATOS page is worded suggests that
the recording of the f2f is possible almost as a matter of course.

Sorry, I should have also mentioned:

'If nothing else, it should ensure that the HPC accurately records what has occurred during the appointment'.
But why?

davidkent wrote: Sorry, I should have also mentioned:

'If nothing else, it should ensure that the HPC accurately records what has occurred during the appointment'.
But why?

It often seems that the claimant and HCP are experiencing very different interviews. One would expect an HCP to be careful to keep the report accurate if s/he knows that it is being recorded and might be heard by, for instance, the Tribunal panel.

Many thanks.
So the sum total is that as (i)it is very unlikely a recording will be made possible by ATOS and (ii)the claimant is unlikely to be able to produce the required machine, the assessment will
go unrecorded so the claimant can look forward to reading a report that bears very little
resemblance to what he/she said.

In my case I am badly bladder incontinent and have been for over 10 years: it was treated by the hospital and I am given medication by my Dr which is changed as whatever I am given only has a
minimal effect. Now this should produce 15 points, but I have been told that despite saying all
this in the esa60 and providing a medical history from my Dr confirming this all, I will still have to
have an assessment and its is probable the medical personnel will not note this correctly.
I feel as if I will be painted into a corner.