Tribunal doctors

Having read all your answers, It appears to me that we have found the reason why the DWP don't usually have their own representative at the Tribunal;
They already have one!

---

The Tribunal doctor! Why pay a DWP rep. to attend when you already have a presence, in the form of a "sleeping member"?
The DWP can then claim impartiality, whilst still maintaining an input. Very clever! Typical Big Brother!
It cannot be, surely, that an apparantly impartial transparent Government system like the Tribunals Service, employs two members who are both on their payroll; namely the judge, (who is employed by the Ministry of Justice), and the doctor, who is employed by the taxpayer, (whose money is taken by),

---

you guessed it,

---

the Government, and given to an "independent" body, ATOS! who are contracted by---you guessed it again,

---

the Government. Well well, what a surprise, the very same person who gives "nil Point" to the claimant at the medical, gets to sit on the panel and has a second input should the claimant be brave enough to make an appeal. I am not suggesting that there is any collusion here, but it does seem a little odd.
Of course, it could also be said that the reason for so many "pleasing verdicts" at the tribunals is because the Tribunals Service is aware of this "unusual arrangement", and compensates for it, and as long as your own particular case is "credible", then you should get a "result". Sorry for frightening anybody, perhaps I am a little to cynical.
Now then, let me see, I wonder who the other member of the panel works for: hmmm. Oh dear!
Don't let this worry you folks, I,m sure it will be all right on the night!

Having read all your replies, it seems to me that we have found the reason why the DWP don't usually have a representative at the tribunal hearing,

---

they already have one!

---

The Tribunal doctor!
Why pay a DWP rep. to attend, if you already have a presence in the form of a "sleeping member"?
That way, the DWP can claim and remain impartial, whilst still maintaining a presence.
Very clever. Typical Big Brother!
It cannot be, surely, that an impartial transparent Government system like the Tribunals Service who sit in judgement, uses members who are in their employ, namely the judge,(who is employed by the Ministry of Justice), and the Tribunal doctor, who is employed by the taxpayer, whose money is taken by,

---

you guessed it

---

the Government, and given to an "independent establishment"---ATOS,----who are contracted by,

---

you guessed it again,

---

the Government. So the very person who gives "nil point" to the claimant at the medical, gets to have a second input at the tribunal hearing should the claimant be brave enough to have an appeal.
I am not suggesting any collusion here, but it does seem a little odd.
Of course, it could also be argued that the reason that so many "good results" are given at the hearings are because the Tribunals Service are aware of this "unusual arrangement" and compensate for it, and as long as your own claim is "credible", then you should get a "result". Perhaps I am a little too cynical.

Now let me see!
I wonder who the other member of the panel is employed by? Hmmmmm!

Oh dear!
Sorry for frightening anyone. I suppose it will be alright on the night!

paul wrote:

Having read all your replies, it seems to me that we have found the reason why the DWP don't usually have a representative at the tribunal hearing,

---

they already have one!

---

The Tribunal doctor!
Why pay a DWP rep. to attend, if you already have a presence in the form of a "sleeping member"?
That way, the DWP can claim and remain impartial, whilst still maintaining a presence.
Very clever. Typical Big Brother!
It cannot be, surely, that an impartial transparent Government system like the Tribunals Service who sit in judgement, uses members who are in their employ, namely the judge,(who is employed by the Ministry of Justice), and the Tribunal doctor, who is employed by the taxpayer, whose money is taken by,

---

you guessed it

---

the Government, and given to an "independent establishment"---ATOS,----who are contracted by,

---

you guessed it again,

---

the Government. So the very person who gives "nil point" to the claimant at the medical, gets to have a second input at the tribunal hearing should the claimant be brave enough to have an appeal.
I am not suggesting any collusion here, but it does seem a little odd.
Of course, it could also be argued that the reason that so many "good results" are given at the hearings are because the Tribunals Service are aware of this "unusual arrangement" and compensate for it, and as long as your own claim is "credible", then you should get a "result". Perhaps I am a little too cynical.

Now let me see!
I wonder who the other member of the panel is employed by? Hmmmmm!

Oh dear!
Sorry for frightening anyone. I suppose it will be alright on the night!

Well that made me feel physicaly sick but I am still going to my tribuneral unafraid and tell them what I think whoever they are paid reps or not. sorry for spelling misstakes

Tribunal doctors do get paid, starting at £302/day but more if they have certain skills.

www.judicialappointments.gov.uk/selectio...ercises/past/301.htm