This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'LiMA and Medication'.

To Mr John Slater 
C/o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx 
 
 
DWP Business Management Team 
 
 
Our Ref: VTR 3758-3384  
22 January 2013 
 
Dear Mr Slater, 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 1 September 2012. In this instance, 
the Department failed to respond within the 20 working days.  Please accept our apologies for 
the undue delay in responding to your request, this was due to the technical nature of the 
question and the research involved to respond to you.  
You asked:- 
 
1.  Please provide all the data that LiMA holds in relation to the following medication: 

  Co-dydramol 
  Esomeprazole 
  Co-codamol 
  Tramadol 
  Escitalopram 
  Sertraline 
  Diazepam 
  Eumovate 
  Prednisone 
  Hydroxychloroquine 
  Sulfasalazine 
 

2.  In relation to medication please provide the source of the following data contained within 
LiMA: 
i. Technical 
data 
ii.  Relationship with specific medical conditions 
iii.  Opinions / views 
3.  How has the data regarding medication been validated, i.e. has it been approved by the 
Royal Pharmaceutical Society? 
4.  Has the Royal Pharmaceutical Society contributed to the Evidence Base held within LiMA? 
 

Please find enclosed copies of the Evidence Based Protocols for the Disability Analyst.  
 
These documents have been produced as part of a programme for approved Healthcare 
Professionals (HCPs) to carry out medical assessments. All HCPs undertaking these medical 
assessments must be registered medical or nursing practitioners who in addition, have 
undergone training in disability assessment medicine and more specific training.  

The training includes theory training in a classroom setting, supervised practical training, and a 
demonstration of understanding as assessed by quality audit. These documents must be read 
with the understanding that, as experienced medical or nursing practitioners, the HCPs will have 
detailed knowledge of the principles and practice of diagnostic techniques and therefore such 
information is not contained in these documents. In addition, these are not stand-alone 
documents, and form only a part of the training and written documentation that a HCP receives. 
As disability assessment is a practical occupation, much of the guidance also involves verbal 
information and coaching. Thus, although the documents may be of interest to non-medical 
readers, some of the information may not be readily understood without background medical 
knowledge and an awareness of the other training and guidance given to HCPs.  
 
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by copyright. You are free to use it for 
your own purposes, including for private study and non-commercial research, and for any other 
purpose authorised by an exception in current copyright law. Documents (except photographs) 
can be also used in the UK without requiring permission for the purposes of news reporting. Any 
other re-use, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright 
holder.  
 
Most documents produced by the DWP and/or Atos Healthcare will be protected by Crown 
Copyright. Most Crown copyright information can be re-used under the Open Government 
Licence (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/). For information 
about the OGL and about re-using Crown Copyright information please see The National 
Archives website -http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/uk-gov-
licensing-framework.htm
 .  
 
Copyright in other documents may rest with a third party. For information about obtaining 
permission from a third party see the Intellectual Property Office’s website at www.ipo.gov.uk
 
In answer to Q 1 please see below all data that Logic integrated Medical Assessment (LiMA) 
holds, in relation to the medication listed above: 
 
Co-dydramol - Co-dydramol (for pain relief){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| 
dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 
Esomeprazole - Esomeprazole (to reduce stomach acid){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at 
|Dosage| dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 
Co-codamol - Co-codamol (for pain relief){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| 
dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 
Tranadol - Tramadol (for pain relief){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| dosage}{ 
|DoseFrequency| a day}. 
Escitalopram - Escitalopram (for depression){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| 
dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 
Sertraline - Sertraline (antidepressant){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| dosage}{ 
|DoseFrequency| a day}. 
 Diazepam - Diazepam (for anxiety){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| dosage}{ 
|DoseFrequency| a day}. Diazepam (muscle relaxant){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at 
|Dosage| dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 
Eumovate:- Data is not held on this trade name 
Prednisone:- Prednisolone (for inflammation){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| 
dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 

Hydroxychloroquine:- Hydroxychloroquine (for rheumatoid arthritis){ taken |Regularity|}{ 
|Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 
Sulfasalazine:- Sulfasalazine (for inflammatory arthritis){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at 
|Dosage| dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 
Sulfasalazine (for inflammatory bowel disease){ taken |Regularity|}{ |Frequency|}{ at |Dosage| 
dosage}{ |DoseFrequency| a day}. 
 
In answer to Q2i, we are unable to provide the technical medication data source contained 
within LiMA.  This is because LiMA has undergone several hundred updates and to identify 
where the medication information was taken from (as new medication and new names of 
mediation are introduced on a regular basis) it would not be possible to identify where the 
information came from. 
 
The detailed information regarding medication on LiMA has been compiled by Atos Healthcare 
using the relevant medical publications.  We estimate that the cost of complying with your 
request would exceed the appropriate limit of £600. The appropriate limit has been specified in 
regulations and for central Government it is set at £600. This represents the estimated cost of 
one person spending 3½ working days in determining whether the Department holds the 
information, and locating, retrieving and extracting the information. Under section 12 of the 
Freedom of Information Act the Department is not obliged to comply with your request and we 
will not be processing your request further.  
  
In reply to Q 2 ii there is not a relationship with specific medical conditions in LiMA. 
 
In answer to Q 2 iii the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) is not about creating information, 
expressing opinion, entering a debate on the meaning or definition of phrases used or 
educating the requestor on what things mean, therefore this question cannot be classified as 
being related to the FoI Act. 
 
In response to Q 3 the above data has not be approved by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society 
(RPS). 
 
In reply to Q 4 the RPS itself has not contributed to the evidence base held within LiMA.  
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number 
above.   
Yours sincerely,  
 
 
DWP Business Management Team 
 
e-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx  
 
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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act 
 
If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx
 or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, 

Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two 
months of the date of this letter.  
 
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the 
Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a 
decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information 
Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, 
Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk