Dear Dr I write to you today about sick and disabled people being forced to endure the work capability

assessment carried out by the private healtcare company Atos Healthcare on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As you may know on the 22nd and 23rd May 2012 at the LMC Conference in Liverpool the Hampshire and Isle of Wight LMC along with the Scottish LMC carried a motion that the BMC should veto the WCA in totality,.. this motion was carried and voted on unanimously. I am sure that you understand and agree that the WCA is unfit for purpose and falls heavily upon the most vulnerable people in our society, and also that the coalition government has failed sick and disabled people in our society. I ask the question, just what has become of our country? A nation that ranks in the top 10 of the wealthiest nations on Earth and yet cannot afford, or chooses not to, look after our most vulnerable citizens and treat them with the respect and compassion they rightfully deserve. I am not sure if you are aware but two persons, who must remain anonymous for legal reasons have brought a Judicial Review (JR) in the high court. This JR has been granted a hearing on a date to be confirmed and centres around the WCA and persons with mental health conditions as they were largely ignored when WCA and its descriptors were written and released. I hope that this court case is won as it may open the door for a further JR to be brought to scrap the WCA and force the Govt. to rewrite it so that it more accurately relates to all with mental and physical health conditions. You may also be aware of two TV documentaries on the BBC and CH4 recently that were shown back to back one of which had an undercover GP at ATOS Healthcare and these assessments were described as TOXIC by one ATOS healthcare Trainer. I watched these with great interest and could not believe what I was seeing. Clearly this cannot be allowed to go on! I hear of many cases of where GPs are not supportive because they claim ATOS/DWP walk all over them and do not take medical evidence sent into full and fair consideration. This must stop and GPs must unite in opposition to the WCA as they now have the backing of the BMA. I do understand how hard it must be for the medical profession in these matters; however it can be 10 fold for our most vulnerable citizens who need to be supported. Neither medical professionals nor the Govt. see this in it's entirety as it is lived out by sick and disabled people behind closed doors for the majority of the time. I am well aware that GPs do a wonderful job but the truth is many are simply too busy to keep track of what is happening in the world of disability and benefits, especially now the NHS is under increased attack from government reforms. However, what we see and hear here is a situation that strikes right at the heart of many families and thus has a greater impact on how they manage and cope with daily living. I respectfully ask your support in opposition to WCA and ask that you show that support by writing to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to express your concerns about WCA on behalf of your patients including myself.

Yours Sincerely