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Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

Social Security Medical Board: Appointment of Medical Board Practitioner

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

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  • demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision

  • providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

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The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 21 November 2011 regarding:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2011-0096

Decision Summary Title :

DS - Appointment of a Medical Board Practitioner

Date of Decision Summary:

21 November 2011

Decision Summary Author:

Manager - Pensions and Health

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

N/A

Written Report

Title :

WR - Appointment of a Medical Board Practitioner

Date of Written Report:

21 November 2011

Written Report Author:

Manager - Pensions and Health

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

 

Public

Subject: Social Security Medical Board – Appointment of Medical Board Practitioner

Decision(s): The Minister approved the appointment of a medical practitioner to undertake medical boards as provided for under the provisions of Article 6 of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefits) (Jersey) Order 2004

Reason(s) for Decision:  A pool of appropriately qualified doctors is required to ensure that the Department can assess benefit entitlements in a timely manner.

Resource Implications: There are no additional resource implications with this appointment.

Action required:  No further action is required.

Signature:

 

 

Position:

Minister

 

Date Signed:

 

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

Social Security Medical Board: Appointment of Medical Board Practitioner

 

REPORT

 

The Social Security (Jersey) Law 1974 (as amended) defines the requirement for a claimant in receipt of Incapacity Benefit to submit periodically to a medical board at the request of the Minister. The medical board must consist of one or two medical practitioners nominated by the Minister.

 

The medical board must determine:

 

  • The effect of the illness in respect of which that benefit is claimed

 

  • The duration of the award i.e. when it would be appropriate to review for continued incapacity to work.

 

The department requires a pool of appropriately experienced doctors appointed to ensure that medical boards are undertaken and benefit claims assessed in a timely manner. 

 

The Minister for Social Security approved the appointment of Dr Roger Thomas to undertake the role of a medical board practitioner under article 34 of the Social Security (Jersey) Law 1974 in July 2011.  This ministerial decision extends the remit of Dr Roger Thomas to also assess incapacity benefits under the Social Security (Jersey) Law 1974.

 

 

Dr R Thomas

Dr Roger Thomas qualified as a doctor in 1973 and after a career in General Practice joined the Department for Work and Pensions assessing claimants for State Benefits and for the past 20 years providing medical policy advice to the Department where he is a Senior Medical Adviser.  He has wide experience of developing and of the operation of functional assessments and has been responsible for the medical guidance issued to UK Decision Makers.  He is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research, Cardiff University and has advised Finnish insurance services and the Irish Republic on disability issues and their assessment.

 

 

 

  

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