Should a doctor be at your appeal?

Candyfloss

Does a doctor require to be at your appeal.I found out much later that the person introduced as such was not according to the paperwork .Can I take this further on a point of law.

janekim96P

Hi canyfloss I remembered years ago goin for my ESA appeal and there were 2 doctors there but it was about 6 or 7 years ago am not sure about PIP but you would think that there should be good luck with your appeal and hope your successful 😊

janekim96P

Sorry Candyfloss 

mikehughescq

Ignore any comments re: ESA appeals. They are constituted completely differently to PIP panels and always have been.

At a PIP appeal there are 3 panel members UNLESS it is an appeal that concerns a failure to attend a face to face. Although it has been ruled that should also be a 3, HMCTS are inconsistent and often list FTA cases in front of a judge sitting alone.

The usual routine is that you have a judge, a medically qualified person and a "disability qualified member". The judge will be 10 years post qualified. The medical professional will be a surgeon, specialist or consultant and the DQM is a person with experience of disability. They could be disabled, a carer, a social worker, even a welfare rights officer.

Your summary decision will just list the members of the panel. It is likely that anyone listed as Mr. or Mrs. will be a consultant as they do not use a Dr. prefix. So, no, unless you have some concrete evidence to back up your claim there is no error of law there at all.

The 5 errors of law are

1) Breach of natural justice.

2) Insufficient findings of fact.

3) Perversity - the findings of fact don't support the subsequent decision.

4) Getting the law itself wrong - using the wrong reg. etc.

5) Taking into account irrelevant considerations.