10 December 2003

DWP’s chief medical adviser, Mansel Aylward, gives evidence to the Commons Public Accounts Committee over accusations that health care professionals, carrying out assessments on behalf of DWP, are treating claimants like “lumps of meat.”

What: Mansel Aylward, DWP’s chief medical adviser, gives evidence to the Commons Public Accounts Committee over accusations that private health care professionals – who carry out assessments on behalf of DWP – are treating claimants like “lumps of meat”. The Commons Public Accounts Committee says it is concerned by the fact that 51% of appeals against IB and DLA decisions are being won by claimants.  But Aylward defends the private Health Care Professionals.  He says he has fed his concerns in at the “highest level” with HM Courts and Tribunal Service and defends the assessment professionals working for SchlumbergerSema and criticises the tribunals’ findings.

Why significant: These high numbers of successful appeals will persist for the next two decades.