§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 18 March, Official Report, columns 380–1, how many fee-paid medical practitioners carry out the medical examinations for constant attendance allowance generally and in Wales; what is the average number of such examinations carried out by each weekly, generally and in Wales; and what extra training such medical practitioners receive, initially and on a continuing basis, to enable them to carry out such examinations and to complete the appropriate forms of application for this benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonThe number of fee paid medical practitioners who carry out examinations for attendance allowance in Great Britain is 2,167. The average number of examinations carried out by each is 115 annually. In Wales there are 223 such medical practitioners who carry out 150 examinations each on an annual basis. Newly recruited medical practitioners are given a training session. The first reports are monitored and further advice given if needed. All are monitored regularly every six months. Additional advice and training are given as needed.
§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of reports of medical examinations for constant attendance allowance carried out by his Department's appointed and trained general practitioners are considered either inadequate or inappropriate when monitored by his Department's regional medical officers and the Attendance Allowance Board during consideration of such applications for benefit.
300W
§ Mr. NewtonI am unable to answer in the form requested as records of reports from the examining medical practitioners which are considered inadequate are not kept. However, the number of examining medical practitioners whose reports were considered to need improvement were 208.
In the six months to end of February 1985, letters of advice were sent to 122 and retraining given to 78 of these doctors. Eight are no longer used.
§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general medical practitioners specially trained by his Department to carry out medical examinations of applicants for the constant attendance allowance have had their contract terminated in each of the years since 1979 to date (i) generally and (ii) in Wales; and if he will detail the reasons for such practitioners no longer being asked to carry out such examinations.
§ Mr. NewtonMedical practitioners who examine for attendance allowance do not have a contract. The number no longer used in each year since 1979 is not known and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
The number of examining medical practitioners no longer used in Wales in the past year is 10, two of them because of inadequate reports and eight reaching the age of 72 years or retiring because of ill-health.