HC Deb 09 June 1988 vol 134 cc671-2W
Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis doctors are recruited and trained to carry out examinations on attendance and mobility allowance claimants; and to what extent their work is monitored.

Mr. Scott

Claimants for the attendance allowance and mobility allowances are examined by doctors who are selected and trained by the regional office senior medical officer from registered medical practitioners who will have either made an application to be considered for this role or been nominated by their peers as suitable for the task.

The doctors selected are usually recruited from among general practitioners within the locality who will have demonstrable knowledge of local socio-economic conditions, established experience in general medical practice and evident expertise in the conducting of medical examinations. Before a doctor is permitted to carry out examinations on attendance and mobility allowance claimants formal instruction is given by the regional office senior medical officer on the background of, and requirements for, the particular benefit. This instruction is supplemented by written guidance notes. Initially, the performance of the examining doctors is closely monitored by the regional office senior medical officer who will institute further training sessions as appropriate; thereafter the doctors' work is regularly monitored by the regional office senior medical officer; but the form and pattern of such monitoring may vary and are dictated by the individual regional office senior medical officer.

Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of pay for doctors who carry out examinations on attendance and mobility allowance claimants.

Mr. Scott

The fees currently payable for medical examinations for attendance allowance and mobility allowance are as follows:

Mobility allowance Attendance allowance
£ £
In surgery examination 22.30
Examination by domiciliary visit (including travelling time)
Up to including 1½ hours 25.70 25.70
Over 1½ hours up to including 2½ hours 38.50 38.50
Over 2½ hours 59.90 59.90

For joint Attendance and Mobility Allowance examinations carried out by domiciliary visit a fee of £48.00 is payable. Where the time taken exceeds 1½ hours £59.90 is payable.

In some Mobility allowance cases claimants are examined by two doctors at a medical boarding centre. Fees are payable on a sessional basis (2½–3½ hours) at £59.90 for the chairman of the medical board, and £52.30 for the member.