[matilda] [Fwd: DLA doctors new scare tactics]

Thu Feb 16 19:09:42 GMT 2006

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	DLA doctors new scare tactics
Date: 	Wed, 15 Feb 2006 04:20:17 -0800
From: 	benefitsandwork <benefitsandwork at googlemail.com>
Reply-To: 	<26185-feedback-34 at lb.bcentral.com>
To: 	List Member <ouzman.robin at tiscali.co.uk>

*FEBRUARY 2006 NEWSLETTER*

Dear Reader,

The DWP, and possibly their multinational partners, seem to be 
increasingly anxious to keep secrets. This month we bring you the 
astonishing news that doctors carrying out DLA medicals have been 
instructed to issue an 'oral warning' to anyone they catch taking notes. 
Amongst other things claimants are to be given a legally bogus warning 
that they should not 'publicise' any records they keep because of data 
protection and confidentiality issues.

Benefits and Work, on the other hand, continues to believe that people 
should have as much information as possible about how their claims are 
decided. So, amongst other things, this month we tell members how to 
obtain a free training video of an incapacity for work medical 
examination and spill the beans about memos and guidance DLA decision 
makers are told to keep secret from claimants and their representatives.

We can't help wondering, though, how much longer we're going to be 
allowed to carry on publishing 'confidential' material and playing 
Jimminy Cricket to the DWP's Pinnochio - particularly as the big 
campaigning organisations continue to politely ignore both the 
increasingly astonishing size of the DWP's nose and the existence of the 
Freedom of Information Act.

So - get what you can whilst it's here.

Steve Donnison

*DLA DOCTORS NEW SCARE TACTICS: CLAIMANTS ISSUED WITH SECRECY WARNINGS*
Benefits and Work has discovered that doctors carrying out Disability 
Living Allowance (DLA ) examinations have been instructed to issue oral 
warnings to claimants, or anyone else present, who appears to be taking 
notes during an examination. The warning, which claims that there are 
legal reasons why what happens at the medical should not be publicised, 
is both intimidatory and legally untrue. The practice has been approved 
by the Department for Work and Pensions, but the General Medical Council 
is to investigate the matter and has urged doctors to consult with the 
Medical Defence Union if they are asked to issue such warnings.
Find out more from this link:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/unspun/37_dla_oral_warnings.htm 
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=3758067&s=105479544>

*DOH! CONFIDENTIAL APPEAL DOCUMENTS LET SLIP*
Benefits and Work has obtained the latest editions the monthly 
newsletter for DLA Decision Makers. Issues covered include when to 
extend the 6 week time limit for DLA claims to be returned; whether 
disabled people should be told to drink less in the evening; which memos 
and guidance should be kept secret from the claimant and their 
representative.
Find out more from this link:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/unspun/38_decision_makers_exchange.htm 
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=3758072&s=105479544>

*FREE INCAPACITY BENEFIT MEDICAL VIDEO*
Benefits and Work aren’t giving away free videos – but the Department 
for Work and Pensions are. Using the Freedom of Information Act Benefits 
and Work has obtained a video showing doctors carrying out a personal 
capability mental health assessment and a full physical examination, 
including the use of Waddell’s signs, claimed to be effective in 
detecting people who are faking back problems. The video is available, 
presumably for as long as stocks last, to anyone who wishes to apply for 
a copy. Benefits and Work Members can send for a copy of the video using 
our simple cut and paste email.
Find out more from this link:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/unspun/39_free_ib_video.htm 
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=3758071&s=105479544>

*DWP DOCTORS EARN HOW MUCH?*
Have you ever wondered how much doctors get paid for carrying out 
medicals for the Department for Work and Pensions? Would you like to 
know if there’s a financial incentive to rush through incapacity 
medicals as fast as possible? Do you sometimes wonder whether visiting 
DLA doctors squeeze in their visits around playing golf and watching 
cricket? Well, now we can answer all your questions – so long as the 
footie hasn’t started yet.
Find out more from this link:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/snippets/1_doctors_earn.htm 
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=3758069&s=105479544>

*NATIONAL INCAPACITY BENEFIT CONFERENCE - YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT INVITED!*
The DWP are holding a national conference to showcase good practice in 
partnership working to get claimants off incapacity benefit and back 
into work. The conference is being held at Birmingham International 
Conference Centre on 9th March and it’s free. Unfortunately, it’s by 
invitation only and neither claimants nor workers from the voluntary 
sector are getting invites.
Find out more from this link:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/snippets/2_incapacity_conference.htm 
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=3758068&s=105479544>

*GILLIES: PANTOMIME DAMES WERE RIGHT*
To the dismay of welfare rights workers and claimants, the House of 
Lords has upheld the decision of the Scottish Court of Session in the 
Gillies case. (See: Gillies case: pantomime dames declare "Trust them, 
they're DWP doctors!"). They have held that a reasonable person would 
not believe that there was any possibility that doctors who work as 
examining medical practitioners for the DWP might be biased in favour of 
their fellow DWP doctors findings when sitting as medical members on DLA 
appeal panels.
Find out more from this link:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/snippets/3_gillies_appeal.htm 
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=3758065&s=105479544>

*BENEFITS AND WORK IN-HOUSE TRAINING
* Fees for in-house training start at just £475. Particularly popular 
courses at the moment include :*
*Making the best possible Disability Living Allowance and Attendance 
Allowance claims
How work affects benefits
Using the Disability Discrimination Act to help clients get and keep work
Find out more from this link:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/book/list_of_courses.htm 
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=3758070&s=105479544>

For a no-obligations discussion of your training needs, please feel free 
to contact us </site/about_us.htm>.

You are welcome to forward this newsletter to anyone you think may be 
interested in the contents. If you have received this newsletter from 
someone else and would like to sign up yourself, you can do so for free at:
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/site/updates.htm 
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=3758066&s=105479544>

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