§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in receipt of sickness and invalidity benefit were referred to regional medical officers in 1980; what percentage of these (a) attended an examination, (b) were confirmed in receipt of benefit 293W following examination, (c) lost benefit following examination and (d) had benefit withdrawn but subsequently reinstated after appeal.
§ Mr. RossiIn Great Britain, 656,000 sickness and invalidity benefit claimants were referred to the regional medical service in 1980. Forty per cent. (259,000) were examined. There are no figures available to show how many retained or lost benefit following examination or how many had benefit withdrawn but reinstated after appeal. However, in the opinion of the examining medical officer, 8 per cent. (53,000) were not incapable of work and 4 per cent. (29,000) were incapable of following their normal occupation but not incapable of suitable alternative work.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social. Services how regional medical officers are selected; what percentage is over retirement age; and what percentage is practising medicine in addition to their duties for his Department.
§ Mr. RossiRegional medical officers are selected by open competition and all those appointed will have had extensive experience in NHS general practice; a minimum of 10 years is usually required. Because the majority of doctors do not join the regional medical service until they are in their fifties, their service usually continues to the age of 65 subject to the usual Civil Service procedure of annual review. There are no regional medical officers over 65 and at present 18 per cent. are over 60. None practise in addition to their departmental duties, which are full-time.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether a person's full medical history is available to a regional medical officer to assist the decision as to whether he is capable of work.
§ Mr. RossiBefore an opinion is given, the doctor providing a person with advice to refrain from work, usually his or her own general practitioner, is asked for any information which he thinks would help the regional medical officer dealing with the case. If the person has been referred to the regional medical service within the past two years, the relevant previous papers will also be available.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time of an examination by a regional medical officer; and what is the average total cost to his Department.
§ Mr. RossiThe average length of time of an examination by a regional medical officer is 23 minutes. The average total cost of the examination is approximately £8.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the decision is reached as to whether or not a disabled person is referred to the regional medical officer.
§ Mr. RossiAll incapacity benefit claims are subject to control which is usually exercised through reference to the regional medical service for a second opinion on incapacity for work. The diagnosis, and the length of time the claimant has been unable to work as a result of the disorder, are the main considerations in determining when an initial reference shall be made. Subsequent references are based on the advice given by the examining medical294W officer. References of disabled people who are unemployed is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.