§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that doctors carrying out independent medical assessments of mentally ill people applying for benefits have specialist psychiatric experience and qualifications. [115903]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownThe role of doctors carrying out assessments of people applying for benefits is to assess the functional effects of a condition, whether physical or mental, on the claimant. All doctors carrying out assessments of people applying for benefits receive specialist training as medical disability analysts.
Training and guidance for these doctors on the assessment of people with mental health problems have been developed by Medical Services in collaboration with experts in psychiatry.