Centres 'unfit for work'
Thursday 22 November 2012
One in four centres run by the firm carrying out the controversial "fit for work" assessments for the sick and disabled lacks disabled access, MPs were told yesterday.
Mark Hoban, the Employment minister, said 31 of the 123 centres run by the French healthcare firm Atos lacked ground-floor access for wheelchairs. Six centres had "terrible" problems and were responsible for nearly three-quarters of all cases of people having to be turned away due to inaccessibility, Mr Hoban told the Work and Pensions Select Committee.
People claiming disability benefits must usually attend a face-to-face assessment with a healthcare professional to determine whether they qualify.
Life & Style blogs
Wandsworth tops aspiring young professionals hotspot list
Other popular areas include Didsbury, Clifton in Bristol, central Cambridge and West Bridgford
Christian GPs and the morning after pill: Much needed clarification
Doctors are allowed to have personal beliefs, just as long as these beliefs do not interfere with th...
Justin Webb on the medical advances in tackling heart disease
BBC journalist Justin Webb talks about his experiences of the advances in preventing heart attacks a...
-
The 10 Best Scotch Whiskies
-
Meet David Karp, the 26-year-old high school dropout worth $275m after selling Tumblr to Yahoo
-
Xbox 720 and PS4 go head to head: Speculation rife ahead of Microsoft launch - and rumour mill goes into overdrive
-
Masculinity in crisis? 'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
-
Virtually Stephen Fry: Star launches (possibly) the world's most self-regarding app
- 1 Austerity has hardened the nation's heart
- 2 Tottenham to smash pay scale with £150,000-a-week contract in attempt to tie Gareth Bale to club
- 3 Strewth mate. Aussies wave goodbye to Britain as it becomes too pricey to stay
- 4 Be more professional! GCHQ staff rapped as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange reveals messages that he says point to 'fit up'
- 5 Join Ryanair! See the world! But we'll only pay you for nine months a year
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
iJobs General
Year 4 Teacher for Septmber 2013 - London Borough of Bexley
£27600 - £31200 per annum: Randstad Education London: The Bexley Education Sup...
Year 2 Teacher for Septmber 2013 - Greenwich/Bexley Boarders
£27600 - £31200 per annum: Randstad Education London: The Bexley Education Sup...
SAP PP
£45000 - £60000 per annum: Progressive Recruitment: SAP PP functional consulta...
SAP SD Consultant
£475 - £476 per day + negotiable: Progressive Recruitment: SAP SD Contract Con...
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'




Comments