IX DIPLOMA IN DISABILITY ANALYSIS MEDICINE
145. We have highlighted in this report the need
to raise standards in the assessment of claimants. One method
of achieving this which has been suggested is the introduction
of the new Diploma in Disability Analysis Medicine (DDAM). Medical
Services' memorandum states that the Diploma "will be instituted
in the spring of 2000 by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine
of the Royal College of Physicians. Medical Services have been
heavily involved in this and are responding by developing a range
of additional training modules in collaboration with external
academic authorities. Preparation of... this Diploma has offered
an unprecedented opportunity for Sema Group Medical Services and
the Department to collaborate in an initiative which will enhance
the ability of doctors to provide a high quality service to members
of the public."[147]
146. The Chief Medical Adviser was an eloquent exponent
of the new Diploma: "When I came into the Department I felt
there was a great need then for some sort of accreditation....
Whereas I think the skills provided in general practice are particularly
important to underpin the skills of the doctor who is a disability
medical analyst, nonetheless I feel they must go beyond that.....
I would say that there should be skills of sensitive clinical
examination, objective clinical examination, an examination which
avoids hands-on.... The most important feature of the disability
medical analyst, I think, is to convey in jargon-free non-medical
terms, and legibly if it is handwritten, the reasons why you are
selecting these descriptors, the reasons which underpin your medical
opinion."[148]
147. We asked the Minister whether he would like
to see all EMPs qualified with the new Diploma. He said that "There
is a capacity constraint on training. I am sure it would be possible
to get more medical schools qualified to do the training over
years to come so that we are not talking about an intake of 30
or so a year but rather more, but it would destroy the intellectual
rigour of a qualification if we said, "Okay, we will get
everybody through, 1,000 a year for the next three years."
Let us not do that. Let us do it properly and establish diploma
qualified doctors as beacons of excellence in each of our medical
boarding centres and over time, of course, the numbers will increase."[149]
He told us that, in the first year, 28 doctors applied to undertake
the Diploma, and that a further 7 doctors believe that they are
already adequately qualified to sit the exam without undertaking
the course.[150]
148. We welcome the new Diploma in Disability Analysis
Medicine and congratulate all those involved in its development.
We are sure it will play an important part in raising standards.
We recognise the practical difficulties involved, but we recommend
that if the Department are serious about achieving a step change
in quality in the delivery of Medical Services they should make
it a long term objective that all sessional doctors attain it
and they should set a timetable in which this will be achieved.
There should be a financial incentive available to encourage doctors
to undertake the Diploma. The Department should begin to explore
funding options to this end.
147 Ev. pp. 99-100, Section 5.3. Back
148
Q 124. Back
149
Q 573. Back
150
Q 571. Back
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