Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are taken to monitor and review the performance of health assessors whose decisions are often reviewed or appealed successfully.

The Department is committed to ensuring individuals receive high quality, objective and accurate assessments.

It is to be noted that Health Professionals are not responsible for the benefit decision, this activity remains within the Department’s authority. The role of the Health Professional is to conduct a functional assessment that focuses on the effects of a health condition or impairment on a claimant’s daily life.

We continue to work extensively with providers to make improvements to guidance, training and supplier audit procedures, in order to ensure the quality of the services is continuously improved.

All elements of the providers’ performance are monitored including the requirements for the quality of assessments, which are assessed through independent audit, with feedback provided to the provider.