Vol. 532 No. 3
130 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the guidelines that exist for the behaviour of medical assessors in dealing with customers of his Department who are facing a medical assessment. [7337/01]
131 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of medical assessors employed by his Department; the number of interviews held during 2000; and the number of complaints issued by customers of his Department against medical assessors for each of the past five years. [7338/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
Currently there are 21 medical assessors employed by my Department, including the chief medical adviser and the deputy chief medical adviser. They are qualified and experienced medical practitioners, many of whom have specialist qualifications. They are all fully registered with the Medical Council and are guided by its recommendations with regard to ethical conduct and behaviour and fitness to practice.
During 2000, a total of 46,566 customers were examined by the medical assessors. Every effort is made to ensure that the interests of persons called for examination are fully safeguarded. Their own 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 a certifier to attend an examination if he or she so wishes. A nurse is always present during the examination.
The information requested by the Deputy with regard to the number of complaints received by my Department in the last five years is set out in the following table along with the total number of examinations carried out in each of the years involved.
|
Year |
Number Examined |
Number of Complaints |
Number of Complaints (%) |
|
1996 |
44,226 |
24 |
.05% |
|
1997 |
51,669 |
26 |
.05% |
|
1998 |
57,223 |
36 |
.06% |
|
1999 |
56,218 |
31 |
.06% |
|
2000 |
46,566 |
31 |
.07% |
