asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans for improvements in the manner in which medical examinations by Department referees are carried out; if so, the nature of such plans; if he has any plans to arrange for specialists to carry out such examinations where necessary and to have such examinations carried out in hospitals where medical equipment would be available; if he will arrange for more extensive examinations to be carried out before the very drastic step of discontinuing benefit in certain cases is taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Medical Examinations.
24.
Under the medical referee system administered by my Department, medical referees conform to the ethical conduct and behaviour guidelines of the Medical Council when carrying out medical examinations of claimants.
Every effort is made to ensure that the interests of persons referred for medical referee examination are fully safeguarded. Their own medical certifiers are advised of the forthcoming examinations and invited to submit an appropriate medical report including references to any recent consultant examinations. In addition it is open to the certifier to attend the medical referee examination if he or she so wishes.
In carrying out an examination, the referee reviews the history of the case including the initial diagnosis already made by the person's own medical practitioner, considers any fresh reports received and expresses an opinion based on the results of the medical examination of the claimant.
The medical adviser, who has operational responsibility for the medical referee system selects appropriate cases for examination by a specialist or a consultant who will in all instances be attached to a hospital.
All reports of examinations are submitted to my Department's medical adviser for approval before they are acted upon to determine entitlement to payment.
Claimants who are disqualified from benefit as a result of an examination may appeal against the disallowance and such persons will normally be re-examined by a different referee before the appeal is considered. In this connection the claimant may submit further appropriate medical evidence.
I am satisfied that the medical referee system is operating in a reasonable manner and that the relevant guidelines are being complied with. In 1988 only 25.7 per cent of those summoned for examination were found capable of work.