Jobcentre Plus
Medical Services Contract Management Team
Government BuildingsSpur B
1 Cop Lane
Penwortham
Preston PR1 OSA
: 01772 405947
Fax: 01772 405969
Email:
Mr J Grimes
Date:03/06/08
Our Ref: FOI 879-359
Dear Mr Grimes
About your request for information
Please find enclosed the information you requested which has been issued by myself as DWP’s Medical Services Contract Management Team Freedom of Information Officer.
If this information is not what you asked for please tell me why. You can contact me at the address and phone number at the top of this letter.
The Department for Work and Pensions re-awarded Atos Origin IT Services Ltd, trading as Atos Healthcare, a new Contract to perform Medical Services on behalf of the Department from 1st September 2005. The total cost of these services amounts to approximately £801 million over a ten year period.This figure not only covers the total numbers of examinations undertaken over the full term of the contract, but also costs relating to written and verbal medical advice, fixed overheads, administrative costs, investment in new technology and other service improvements. The figure also covers salaries and expenses.
I can confirm the DWP do not hold any information regarding the amounts paid to Atos Healthcare staff.
In March 2008, Atos Healthcare employed 347.8full time equivalent Healthcare Professionals (this includes doctors and nurses) and 841 sessional Healthcare Professionals (doctors only).
Benefit entitlement is determined by DWP decision makers not Approved Healthcare Professionals. In order to make a decision on benefit entitlement the Decision Maker considers all the available evidence not just the reports received from Atos Healthcare. Other evidence may include the customer’s ‘self assessment’, reports from GPs, hospital doctors and health care professionals.
Approved Healthcare Professionals who compile medical reports do not receive bonuses where the DWP decision makers have disallowed benefit.
If you are not satisfied with my handling of your requestplease tell me why within two calendar months of the date of this letter.I will then arrange for someone to conduct an internal review of your request and my handling. The review will be conducted by another officer, usually of a more senior grade to myself. This person will have taken no part in my original decision. You will be advised of their decision in writing.
If you are still not content with the outcome of the internal review you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner to look into the way your request has been handled. Please note that generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted DWP’s own complaints procedure. The Commissioner can be contacted at:
FoI Complaints Resolution
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Fax: 01625 545 510
email:
Yours sincerely
Anthony Roberts
Freedom of Information Officer