John Brady
Ceist:343. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has addressed the issue of medical assessors for social protection applications or appeals; and, if not, the reason. [11831/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 May 2016
Ceisteanna (343)
Freagraí scríofa
The cadre of Medical Assessors (MAs) in the Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) currently comprises a Chief Medical Officer (CMO), a Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) and 25 Medical Assessors. A recent MA recruitment competition run by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is almost complete and it is expected that a number of new MAs will be recruited shortly.
It has become increasingly difficult in recent years to recruit and retain doctors. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2015 extended the legal definition of Medical Assessor to include registered nurses (previously MAs had to be registered medical practitioners - GPs).
The Department hopes to be in a position to run another recruitment competition in 2016 to recruit MA doctors and MA nurses, through the Public Appointments Service. It is also envisaged that the MRAS could be supplemented by a number of suitably skilled agency MAs.