asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the system of operation of medical referees; if he will indicate the qualifications required and salary structure of medical referees; and the extent to which the views and opinions of a claimant's own medical advisers are either sought or taken into account by such medical referees.
Written Answers. - Medical Referees.
30.
The medical referee system is a key element of control in the administration of the Department's disability and injury benefit schemes. Medical referees provide a second opinion to that of the claimant's own doctor as to the incapacity of persons claiming benefit. In selecting claimants for medical referee examination regard is had to the nature of the certified incapacity and the duration of the claim and computerised facilities are used in the selection procedures. The cases selected are then reviewed by the medical adviser who decides if a case should proceed for examination by a medical referee.
Cases listed for examination are first notified to the claimants' medical certifiers who are invited to furnish any further medical details including any specialists reports and to confirm that the claimants are fit to attend. The medical certifier in each case is also invited to attend the examination if he or she so wishes. Certifiers' reports where received, are considered by the medical referee and taken into account in conducting the examination.
After all examinations, the medical referee reports and all relevant medical papers are reviewed by the medical adviser. Where the claimant is deemed to be capable of work he may appeal against the decision and the appellant will normally be re-examined by a different medical referee before the appeal is considered by an independent statutorily appointed appeals officer.
All medical referees must have been registered medical practitioners for at least six years. The medical referee cadre has a wide range of experience and has qualifications in all the relevant branches of medicine. However, if it is considered necessary in any case, independent specialist advice is obtained by the Department. Also it is open to any claimant to submit a specialist report in support of his claim.
The salary scale of medical referees, who are precluded from engaging in private practice, is £22,919 to £26,841 a year.