9 February 2006
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.
The video is intended to be used by DWP doctors in conjunction with a training pack on Cardiorespiratory and Mental Health Examination Techniques already available to download from the Members area.
The video and training pack are a valuable resource for claimants and support workers who wish to familiarise themselves with what happens – or is supposed to happen - at incapacity medicals. Though it should be noted that, unlike most doctors now carrying out personal capability assessments, the doctors in the video are not using LiMA software.
