Where a person claims a payment from my Department in respect of illness, an opinion regarding the person's medical condition is given in the first instance by their own doctor. Where required, a second opinion is provided by medical assessors employed by my Department for the guidance of the Department's deciding officers who ultimately determine entitlement.
Currently, there are 18 medical assessors, as well as the chief medical adviser and the deputy chief medical adviser. They are recruited via the Civil Service Commission and a condition of their appointment is that they must have at least six years experience in general medical practice. They are fully qualified and experienced medical practitioners who have full registration in accordance with Medical Council criteria. Prior to qualification as doctors, each undergoes psychiatric training to the appropriate level.
Among the medical assessor cadre are individual doctors with post-graduate and higher qualifications in various fields of occupational medicine, including psychology and psychotherapy. All have considerable expertise in the area of disability assessment, including mental health and all other health related problems. Ongoing medical education in the evaluation of disability is provided by national and international experts, including distinguished psychiatrists. There are also regular meetings and seminars under the direction of the chief medical adviser where medical issues and developments in the occupational medicine field are discussed.
When a claimant is called for a medical examination, the medical assessor will have available the initial medical diagnosis from the claimant's own doctor, supplemented, where appropriate, by relevant specialist and other reports. The claimant's doctor is informed and may attend the medical examination if desired. Where considered necessary, there is provision for the chief medical adviser or the chief appeals officer to seek specialist consultant advice in individual cases. In the course of medical examinations of claimants, all relevant available medical information is taken into account. Any information provided by the claimant is also taken into account. Where further specialist advice is considered necessary, it is obtained.
I am satisfied that claimants are treated in a fair and equitable manner having regard to the need to ensure that the conditions for entitlement to disability payments are upheld. I am also satisfied that my Department has a sufficient number of medical assessors and that they have sufficient expertise to discharge their responsibilities.
