Cameron's Britain continues to shock. This happened just down the road in Neasden: (From The Independent)
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Recently, there have been several reports of Atos carrying out their fitness to work assessments in buildings which are not wheelchair accessible.
Considering the number of wheelchair users who undergo fitness-to-work
assessments, this is only seen as yet another thing to add to the long list of
serious problems that disabled people and carers have with the way the
company operates.
The latest story of an inaccessible assessment centre appears to be the
worst one yet, with the most serious potential consequences for a severely
disabled person. It also illustrates clearly exactly why it is so important
that all centres and offices used by Atos should be completely wheelchair
accessible.
Geoff Meeghan, 32, has early-onset Parkinson’s disease and cannot walk more
than three metres unsupported. He was being assessed by Atos on the second
floor of a building in Neasden, North West London. A few minutes into his
assessment, the fire alarm went off.
Staff evacuated the building, but left him behind in his wheelchair.
Disabled people are supposed to be asked whether they can exit the building
unassisted. Mr Meeghan, for some unknown reason, was apparently
not asked this question.
He also said that they were not allowed to use the lift and when they
asked a security guard for help, he said he would send some, but no one came.
Eventually, another security guard arrived at the scene and stayed with Mr
Meeghan and his carers, even though he had been told to evacuate.
Mr Meeghan can tackle stairs supported, he said, but in the “highly
stressful situation” he felt it was “far too risky.”
Most shocking of all, it was a real fire. Mr Meeghan said “It wasn’t a
drill. We could see the fire engine arriving outside.”
He went on to strongly criticise the company, saying: “I feel like there was
a general lack of respect for disabled people at Atos – they make you feel as
though you’ve done something wrong by being disabled – like you’re being
persecuted.”
An Atos spokesperson said: “This should never have happened and we apologise
unreservedly. We will be getting in contact with Mr Meeghan directly. We have
since reviewed this case internally with the building security and management
team to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
“This is a DWP building and the fire warden in charge on the day
followed the appropriate evacuation procedures and advised that everyone had to
leave the building except for a security guard who was asked to stay with Mr
Meeghan.”
Mr Meeghan is extremely lucky to be alive after this incident. And this
story transpires after we hear of the Atos boss getting a £1million bonus.
It is now hoped that all Atos workers and assessment centres are made aware
of this incident at the very earliest opportunity. It is also hoped that all
assessment centres used by Atos will, in light of this case, now make every
possible effort to provide ground floor rooms to wheelchair users for
assessments at all times. At the very least offering respect and safety to the
disabled people they are testing.
