recording a medical or having it recorded

that is so unreasonable it is unlawful in my opinion as a barrister.

Spot on Gordon, and many thanks. Exactly what was I after. Agreed, vhawk.

JOBCENTRE PLUS: “There is no real need for customers to request and use the recording of their assessment.”

If it weren’t so sickening it would be funny.

Having had many occasions to use the Mechanical Recording Dept of the Royal Courts of Justice, I'd say being able to go back over cases and listen to them is something that is so vital to civil cases that it should be used in all similar situations, especially ATOS medicals.

bro58 wrote:

DWP are running a pilot scheme at the moment, only with 500 medicals though.

I think this is because of Harringtons reveiw.

IMO the DWP are being opportunist here.

They can say that they are "running trials" and that whilst the system is "under review" they won't let anyone outside the scheme do any recording.

When the trials have finished, they be "in the evaluation phase" - so no recording "yet". Then they will decide to so further "modified" tests, before deciding that too many of the HCPs found being recorded stressful or intimidating and reluctantly concluding that no recording will be permitted.

After that there will be a note sent out with every appointment for a WCA (or PIP when that comes along) saying that no recording of any kind will be allowed - even taking notes - and that anyone doing so will have their interview terminated immediately with no possibility of review or appeal.

And that will quash the recording issue.

Atos are still digging their heels in with the issue of audio recording medical assessments despite the Harrington Report, as is clearly demonstrated in paragraph 4.1.3 on page 125 of the latest edition of the WCA handbook.

An audio recording is a clear, verbatim and unequivocal transcript of the medical assessment, so what's the problem?

So at the moment no (visible) recording is permitted but copious note taking by a third party is? I can see medicals taking hours as the notes are taken and a question isn't answered until the note taker is ready for the next question.
Madness.