Getting an immediate Medical printout after PCA

Hi

I only subscribed to the Benefits and Work Site a few weeks ago and this is my first post so please bear with me.

I’m on Incapacity Benefit and last Thursday, 30 December, I attended and underwent a PCAME (personal capability assessment medical examination). After the examination was over I presented the Doctor with a personalised copy of ibbrief1.doc, a boiler plate type document obtained from the Benefits and Work site, requesting an immediate printout of my LiMA generated medical report. The Doctor would not, or I should say could not, comply with my request. He stated that the computer system is not capable of such a printout and that I should take the matter up with my local jobcentre.

As per ibbrief1.doc, I verbally informed him that if subsequently found capable of work I would appeal, and that I would inform the appeal panel/tribunal of his unwillingness/inability to provide me with an unadulterated copy of my medical report. This seemed to agitate him and he asked me to wait for a few moments whilst he fetched another member of staff whom might better explain the situation (the Doctor was not a native English speaker). A couple of minutes later he re-appeared with the booking-in receptionist who basically repeated what the Doctor had said earlier, that the computer system is such that a printout cannot be obtained.

So, I didn’t get a printout of my medical report, and I’m wondering where I stand if I find it necessary to appeal. Did they basically give me a load of old flannel, or is there some substance to their claim, that the computer system is now set-up in such a way as to make printouts impossible at this particular stage of the process?


Jim

It is standard practice for Atos medical assessors not to release details of the medical report (form IB85), immediately following a medical assessment.

It is a well-known old chestnut to blame the computer within government departments for whatever reason, usually to the detriment of claimants/appellants, and this practice has been adopted by medical assessors with instructions from the hierarchy. As you correctly say, it is a load of old flannel. Unfortunately they are not duty bound to release the medical report, and most certainly will not do so under any circumstances. If you have to appeal an adverse IB decision, you may raise the matter at the tribunal, but as this is an administrative decision rather than a legal decision about IB entitlement, it would be without substance and considered irrelevant to the decision under appeal.

The situation you have encountered in my opinion, makes it all the more reason why medical assessments should be recorded. By refusing to release the medical report immediately following the assessment, it can give rise to suspicion that not everything is above board. I think that if a medical assessment is recorded and the subsequent recording can be used as evidence before an appeal tribunal, this can effectively supersede the request for the medical report from the assessor, as it is unequivocal evidence of what has been said during the assessment.