LUDICROUS

Disabled people have been turned away from the centre because the only way of getting there is up a steep flight of stairs.

Claimants have been unable to see doctors for medical assessments even though they were ordered to attend to make sure they are entitled to their handouts.

Bungling bureaucrats even failed to inform people that there was a problem with the stairlift and that the only way to get to the first floor centre was up a steep flight of stairs.

Disabled David Holmes, 51, discovered the stairlift was out of action due to health and safety reasons when he accompanied friend Diane Waters to an appointment at the Southampton building.

Today a national disability charity described the situation as ludicrous and a Southampton MP criticised the Department for Work and Pensions, which runs the centre used by people from across Hampshire.

Romsey-based Margie Woodward, campaigns officer for Scope, described the situation as "ludicrous".

She said: "This is exactly the sort of thing that undermines disabled people's rights.

"It is simply not acceptable, particularly in a case where a disabled person is being asked to attend for a medical examination. People are quite right to complain about this ridiculous situation."

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham called for civil service bosses to think about moving the assessment centre at Oxford House in College Street to another building.

He said: "How can a medical centre specialising in examining people claiming disability benefits be inaccessible to people who can't climb stairs?

"It is not satisfactory that a location used for interviews and medical examinations for disability benefit claimants continues to use first floor facilities without suitable disabled access.

"Department for Work and Pensions medical services need to urgently reconsider the use of this building."

Mr Holmes told the Daily Echo that after being allowed in the front door via an Intercom system it became clear that friend Diane would be unable to walk up the steep flight of steps.

With the stairlift showing an "out of service" sign, the pair asked if a doctor could come downstairs to examine Diane but were told this would not be possible.

Instead they were sent away and advised to either attend a similar medical centre in Portsmouth or obtain a GP's letter to say Diane would need to be assessed in her own home.

Diane, 51, who was in excruciating pain following a hip injury, had travelled from her home in Locks Heath after being summoned to the centre as part of her application for disability living allowance.

Mr Holmes, of The Grove, Sholing, who walks with a stick following a knee replacement, said: "The system has obviously been devised to get rid of malingerers by making people attend a medical.

"I have absolutely no qualms about doing that - but they seem to make it as difficult as possible for genuine disabled people to get what they are entitled to.

"The lady we saw told us the stairlift had been broken for some time. This is absolutely atrocious. Things like this just discourage disabled people more and more, particularly elderly people who are sometimes easily intimidated."

Today the Department for Work and Pensions pledged to do all it could to get the stairlift back in action.

A DWP spokesman said: "The experience these customers have had is clearly unacceptable and the department will be working with our contractor, who conduct the medical assessments and have responsibility for the building, to put this right."

A spokesman for contractors Atos Origin, which provides the DWP with medical advice and examination for those claiming incapacity and disability benefits, apologised for the situation.

She said: "The stairlift at Southampton is not being used on health and safety advice. This is urgently being addressed by our managers.

"For a temporary period we are making alternative arrangements. When we arrange appointments for Southampton we determine whether the customer, or anyone accompanying them, would have any difficulty using the stairs - those that have any difficulty are offered a different examination centre or provided with a home visit.

"We are committed to ensuring that no customer is put at any risk. We sincerely apologise to this customer and would be pleased to speak directly with her to ensure her situation is satisfactorily resolved."