MEDICAL BOARD EXAMINATIONS

Motion Text

That this House notes serious concerns raised over how the Medical Board examines applicants for incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance; urges for changes to be made to mandate the Medical Board to take oral as well as written evidence from the claimant's general practitioner and relevant specialist; believes that experience leads to the conclusion that more time should be allocated for in-depth consideration of the claimant's evidence and that the examination should also include home visits when appropriate; further believes that decisions should be made on medical evidence and not motivated by the need to reduce the number of claimants or by age discrimination; further believes the claimant process should ensure that the stress, worry and anxiety experienced by the claimant is minimised and no financial burden is imposed as a result of the process; further believes it is important to aim to achieve the right decision first time and to reduce the need for excessive numbers of appeals, thus saving public money; and therefore calls on the Government to review the process of Medical Board examinations for incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance.