Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he has discussed with the chief executive of the NHS pension scheme the position of NHS employees applying for sickness retirement pension on the grounds of myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement; [5297]
(2) how many employees in the NHS have applied for ill-health retirement because of myalgic encephalomyelitis; [5299]
678W(3) how many employees in the NHS have been awarded ill-health retirement pensions because they suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis; and if he will make a statement; [5298]
(4) if he will set up an independent inquiry into the work of the NHS Pensions Agency with particular reference to their refusal to acknowledge myalgic encephalomyelitis as a medical condition in respect of ceasing work; and if he will make a statement. [5296]
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the availability of NHS pensions to persons who leave the NHS as a result of myalgic encephalomyelitis; [5006]
(2) if he will introduce an appeal structure for persons who are refused an NHS pension [5007]
§ Mr. MaloneUnder the national health service pension scheme regulations, an employee must be accepted as permanently incapable of efficiently discharging his or her duties before an ill-health retirement pension can be awarded. The scheme's medical advisers examine each application on the evidence available and with full regard to prevailing professional opinion. Applications in respect of myalgic encephalomyelitis are treated no differently to other conditions. In all cases, the scheme's medical advisers must be satisfied about the permanent nature of the condition.
ME is recognised as a potentially debilitating and distressing condition which affects thousands of people. However, it presents particular difficulties because of its nature and because opinions vary about it in the medical profession. The medical consensus suggests that in the majority of cases the effects should not be permanent.
Since 15 August 1994, when separate records were first kept, there have been 200 applications for ill-health retirement from ME sufferers. In 19 cases, pensions have been awarded.
Scheme members are currently able to challenge decisions about entitlement through the NHS Pensions Agency's comprehensive internal review procedures. If scheme members are dissatisfied with the outcome, they may ask my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to determine their case. The pensions ombudsman also has powers to investigate individual complaints.
I am satisfied that the chief executive and his staff are administering the scheme in accordance with the scheme's regulations in all of these cases.