What communications are there between the DWP and a patient's GP??

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, General Medical Council should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear General Medical Council,

1. What communications might there be between the DWP and a patient's GP or consultant?

2. What communications might there be between ATOS and a patient's GP or consultant?

3. I have heard that the DWP, after a patient has failed the WCA, discourages GPs from issuing medical certificates, as in their view the patient has been found "fit for work" via the WCA. Is this true in any respect?

This is worrying because currently so many ESA applicants "fail" the WCA - many getting 0 points at all - which is a concern for most of the major disability charities.

Many thanks,

Yours faithfully,

[P. Smith]

FOI, General Medical Council

Dear [P. Smith]

Information request - F11/3923/EH

Thank you for your email of 13 July 2011 in which you request
information in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

We will consider your request and you will normally receive the
information you seek within the 20 working day limit set by the FOIA.

The FOIA lists a number of exemptions that may prevent the release of
part, or all, of the information that you have requested. We will make
an assessment of the requested information and if it is subject to an
exemption you will be informed of this, together with details of your
right of appeal.

Your request has been allocated to Elizabeth Hiley. If you have any
queries please contact Ms Hiley on 0161 923 6314 or email
[email address].

Yours sincerely

Sarah Leigh
Information Access Team Administrator
0161 923 6398
[email address]

General Medical Council
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3AW

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Elizabeth Hiley \(0161 923 6314\), General Medical Council

Our ref: F11/3923/EH

Dear [P. Smith]

Thank you for your email. Your request has been considered in accordance
with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

I should firstly explain that the FOIA provides a right of access to
information held by a public authority, subject to a number of
exemptions. With this in mind I must confirm that we do not hold the
information you have requested.

I must stress that matters regarding the Work Capability Assessment do
not fall within the remit of the General Medical Council. We are
therefore unable to provide further information in this regard.
Information regarding the role of the GMC is available on our website at
http://www.gmc-uk.org/about/role.asp.

If you have any concerns regarding the handling of this request please
contact Julian Graves, Information Access Manager, at
[email address].

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth Hiley
Information Access Officer
Tel no: 0161 923 6314
Email: [email address]

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