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Mr. Burt
The administration of the Benefits Agency medical services is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 19 February 1997:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking if he will list by centre the targets negotiated by each medical services centre in its service level agreement with each disability benefits centre, for disability living allowance and attendance allowance in respect of (a) medical advice, (b) scrutiny, (c) assessment, (d) examinations and (e) complaints.
Details of all the negotiated targets are in the attached appendix.
I hope this reply is helpful.
| Targets from service level agreements between medical services centres and disability benefit centres for disability living allowance and attendance allowance |
| Birmingham |
|
Target |
| Special rules |
1 day |
| Written advice (normal) |
3 days |
| Written advice (non standard GP factual reports/hospital case notes/consultants reports) |
5 days |
| Oral advice |
On demand |
| Standard and non standard factual reports |
3 days |
709W
| Targets from service level agreements between medical services centres and disability benefit centres for disability living allowance and attendance allowance |
| Birmingham |
|
Target |
| Standard and non standard factual reports (need to contact author) |
5 days |
| Non standard reports |
5 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals (advice on IIDB/SDA cases) |
Within 5 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals—FME written request |
10 days |
| Bootle |
|
Target |
| New claims (oral) |
Same day |
| New claims (written) |
Within 3 days |
| Special rules (normal) |
Within 1 day |
| Special rules (need to contact GP) |
Within 2 days |
| Severe mental impairment |
Within 3 days |
| Reviews |
As for new claims |
| Factual reports |
Within 3 days |
| Factual reports (clarification with author) |
Within 5 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals—advice on MAT cases |
5 days from receipt |
| Medical appeals tribunals—preparation of requests for reports |
10 days from receipt |
| Medical appeals tribunals—preparation of extracts of hospital case notes |
10 days from receipt |
| Bristol |
|
Target |
| Medical advice (written) |
3 days |
| Medical advice (oral) |
1 day |
| Factual report (normal) |
3 days |
| Factual reports (need to contact author) |
5 days |
| Special rules |
1 day |
| Special rules (need to contact author) |
2 day |
| Severe mental impairment |
3 days |
| Medical appeal tribunals |
5 days |
| Cardiff |
|
Target |
| Medical advice (oral/written including special rules) |
Same day |
| Non standard factual reports |
3 days |
| Non standard factual reports (contact author) |
5 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals (primary) |
95 per cent. In 5 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals (secondary) |
100 per cent. in 10 days |
| Edinburgh |
|
Target |
| Medical advice (oral) |
Same day |
| Medical advice (written) |
1 day unless longer is considered necessary |
| Non standard factual reports |
5 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals |
5 days |
| Glasgow |
|
Target |
| Factual reports (normal) |
3 days |
| Factual reports (need to contact author) |
5 days |
| Special rules |
1 day |
| Special rules (need to contact GP) |
2 days |
| Mental impairment |
3 days |
| Advice on MAT cases |
5 days |
710W
| Glasgow |
|
Target |
| Complaints re factual reports (acknowledgement) |
5 days |
| Complaints reply |
10 days |
| Non standard factual reports |
3 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals |
5 days |
| Leeds |
|
Target |
| Special rules (need to contact GP) |
2 days |
| Special rules (other) |
1 day |
| Severe mental impairment |
3 days |
| Normal rules |
3 days |
| Reviews and appeals |
3 days |
| Standard/non standard factual reports |
|
| Normal |
3 days |
| Need to contact author |
7 days |
| Medical appeal tribunals |
|
| Initial scrutiny pre hearing |
5 days |
| FME pre hearing |
5 days |
| Provide precis of hospital pre hearing case notes |
10 days |
| Manchester |
|
Target |
| Special rules (normal) |
1 day |
| Special rules (need to contact GP) |
2 days |
| General advice (oral) |
1 day |
| General advice (written) |
5 days |
| Standard and non standard factual reports |
3 days |
| Medical appeal tribunals |
5 days |
| Newcastle |
|
Target |
| Special rules (except where UP contacted) |
1 day |
| Other written advice |
3 days |
| Standard and non standard factual reports |
3 days |
| Standard and non standard factual reports (where GP needs to be contacted) |
5 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals |
7 days |
| Sutton |
|
Target |
| Normal rules primary |
95 per cent. in 3 days |
| Normal rules secondary |
100 per cent. in 5 days |
| Special rules primary |
98 per cent. in 1 day |
| Special rules secondary |
100 per cent. in 2 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals primary |
70 per cent. in 3 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals secondary |
98 per cent. in 5 days |
| Wembley |
|
Target |
| Normal rules |
5 days |
| Special rules |
1 day |
| Special rules (where GP needs to be contacted) |
2 days |
| Standard and non standard factual reports (normal) |
3 days |
711W
| Wembley |
|
|
Target |
| Standard and non standard factual reports (where author needs to be contacted) |
5 days |
| Medical appeals tribunals |
5 days |