Head Injury and the Work Capability Assessment

bro58 wrote:

Crazydiamond wrote: Is it still the case that if a claimant with a head injury presents for the work capability assessment, it has to be carried out by a doctor as opposed to any other healthcare professional?

I have trawled through all 240 pages of the WCA handbook and other resources to ascertain if a doctor should still undertake the WCA but to no avail. Therefore, if anybody can point me in the direction as to where i can find the required information, I would be much obliged.

Hi CD,

Good to hear from you !!

I hope you are as well as can be expected.

Yes, there was guidance stating that there are certain medical conditions where the ADA should be a Doctor.

As I recall, Neurological conditions were included, I think that it was only "Guidance" and seem to remember it coming to light in an FOI request.

I will have a look through my own database, and post anything that I can find on this thread.

bro58

Thank you. Much appreciated.

I am reasonably well at the moment, but as well as caring duties, I have been dealing with a lot of ESA and bedroom tax appeals recently for close friends, because as you are aware legal aid is no longer available for FTT appeals. Unfortunately, the local CAB and welfare rights office are no longer taking on any appeals due to the sheer volume of outstanding appeals, creating an impossible workload.

Crazydiamond wrote:

Mrs Hurtyback wrote: Hi CD, nice to see you. I am never sure whether this is an official rule or just a guideline, I'm sure one of the other mods will have a definitive answer for you.

Yes, it is nice to have time to post in the forum again but the notation that I am still a forum moderator needs to be removed. Unforunately, since my last visit it is completely new software, and I have to admit I have forgotten how to amend my profile!

Hi CD,

To edit your profile, click on your blue forum name

On the blue bar across the top you will see "Profile for Crazydiamond".

To the right of that you will see "Edit"

Click on "Edit".

Click on 2nd box "Profile Information".

Amend "Personal Text" from "Forum Moderator" to whatever you want it to be.

Hit "Save" at the bottom.

bro58

Mrs Hurtyback wrote: Gordon is the Mr Big here these days, he might be able to help with the technical stuff.

A little bit of forethought never goes amiss, and I have managed to delete the 'forum moderator' notation.

Crazydiamond wrote:

Mrs Hurtyback wrote: Gordon is the Mr Big here these days, he might be able to help with the technical stuff.

A little bit of forethought never goes amiss, and I have managed to delete the 'forum moderator' notation.

Hi CD,

Just in case you missed this :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=top...&limitstart=0#125593

I will have a good rummage around for you in the morning, and post anything that I can come up with.

Cheers

bro58

Mags wrote: I was seen by a doctor for my WCA last year, I have a head injury. They had to cancel my first appointment as they had not sent my notes, and the lady at the desk told me that they would have to send my next appointment to me and if I had to cancel I had to stipulate I was a doctor only case, this was why she couldn't rebook my botched appointment.

Hope this is of some use.

Mags

Hi Mags,

Thank you for your reply.

From what you have said, it would appear that ESA claimants with head injuries still need to be examined by a doctor for the purposes of the WCA. All I need now is the official written confirmation!

Hi CD,

Here are the results of an FOI Request re : “Doctor only conditions”

Discussed on rightsnet : Here.



This extract :

“If the HCP advises that the claimant should be called for an assessment, the appropriate practitioner type must be selected on MSRS.”

From the last para on page 30 of : This Document also seems to confirm that a certain type of ADA must be chosen to carry out the WCA depending on the claimant’s medical conditions.

bro58