Benefits Agency Medical Services (Hansard, 29 June 1998)

§ Mr. Denham

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 my hon. Friend.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Bill Etherington, dated 25 June 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what specialist training and guidance on (a) fibromyalgia, (b) cystic fibrosis, (c) ME/CFS and (d) MS is offered to examining medical practitioners employed by Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS). It may be helpful if I explain that all BAMS' medical examiners are required to hold a full medical degree and must be fully registered medical practitioners. BAMS also require their employed doctors to have at least three years post registration experience, including one year in general practice and at least six months experience of psychiatry or rehabilitation/occupational medicine. Alternatively BAMS require five years post registration experience as a principal (or equivalent) in general practice. The role of the BAMS doctor is to assess the effects of a customer's disability and to provide advice to the Adjudication Officer, who will consider all the evidence available and determine entitlement to benefit. All BAMS doctors are given additional training in carrying out this specialised type of assessment. As fibromyalgia, cystic fibrosis, ME/CFS and MS are commonly encountered conditions they are covered in the training. Guidance is given to examining doctors relevant to the analysis of the needs of people with disabilities and this is published in the Disability Handbook. This guidance is based on the consensus view of the medical profession at the present time and is periodically updated. BAMS doctors are also expected to keep abreast of developments in the medical field. Where deficiencies of knowledge or understanding are identified, via our routine monitoring of casework, relevant guidance or training is provided on an individual basis. I hope you find this reply is helpful.