Statement on CIR & Function First Style Assessments by IAS for Forward ME 31 October minutes

Christine Harrison updated members on her work with the Independent Assessment Services (IAS formerly ATOS) and Capita in respect of PIP.

The Independent Assessment Services (IAS formerly ATOS) Conditions Insight Report on ME (and CFS) has recently been rewritten, with input from their stakeholder ME group (BRAME). The CIR on ME acknowledges the neurological classification (WHO ICD10 G93.3) and provides accurate information on the conditions, and their impact on daily life, and includes reference documents, about ME and CFS. The CIRs are used by IAS Health Assessors to help HAs learn and understand more about a condition.

IAS have also changed their approach to the assessment, and are now universally following the Function First Approach, which was implemented after a successful pilot in February this year (2017). This ‘function first approach’ has been highly recommended and praised by Paul Grey in his report.

  • This ‘Function First Approach’ has been welcomed by claimants for the following reasons:
  • At the beginning of the assessment the practitioner will now ask questions to find out how a person functions on a day to day basis regarding their daily living activities and mobility.
  • This differs from the old approach which had focused initially on the medical conditions of a claimant which was found to be both mentally and emotionally demanding for the claimant.
  • This now enables the practitioner to gain a clearer insight with regards to the claimant’s functionality.
  • The claimant is less fatigued at the beginning of the assessment so hopefully will find the experience less stressful especially if they are experiencing pain or discomfort.
  • It is also proved to be a more positive experience for the claimant.

Christine informed the group that due to this function first approach proving to be more successful, Capita is now doing trials, which they will assess, and may also then take the same universal approach.

Capita has been saying that it will be revising their Conditions Insight Reports, including that on ME, for the past 18 months, and Christine will be raising this again at the next meeting with Capita, at the end of November, as this is something which needs to be urgently addressed.

Christine asked members of FME to please give her feedback, if they receive information about PIP health assessments,so that she can feed it back to IAS and Capita. IAS have accurate information about neurological ME, so hopefully claimants will find that the IAS health assessors will have more knowledge, and better understanding of ME, and its impact on their daily life.