NRAS welcomes the publication of Professor Harrington’s second independent review on the Work Capability Assessment in 2011
Maidenhead, UK – 24 November 2011 - NRAS today welcomes the publication of Professor Harrington’s second independent review on the Work Capability Assessment in 2011, which focuses on issues including:
• Introducing checks on benefit decisions to ensure fairness and consistency.
• Working with disability groups to help develop guidance for Atos healthcare professionals and decision makers.
• Improved support and communications for people who move onto Jobseeker’s Allowance to make sure they get the help they need.
• Regularly publishing data on performance and quality to improve the transparency of the face-to face assessment.
Of particular note to people with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), the latest report contains a section on fluctuating conditions descriptors. It noted particular problems with assessing people who have fluctuating conditions in the first review, particularly the repeatability of tasks, pain and fatigue and the view that the WCA provides a ‘snapshot’ assessment rather than taking a longer-term view of the condition and its impact on the individual. As a result, Professor Harrington asked a group of charities to provide recommendations on refining the approach. Although not part of the original group, NRAS was asked to comment on this draft report and we are pleased to see that Professor Harrington has endorsed the report’s findings in his latest report.
The recommendations were taken forward by a scrutiny group, which concluded that the descriptors need to be multi-dimensional, in particular taking into account frequency, severity and duration of symptom or symptoms; they need to be clearly worded so that it is clear each activity must be able to be completed ‘reliably, repeatedly and safely’ and, as appropriate, ‘within a reasonable amount of time’; more work-related activities need to be included within the descriptors to give them more of a work focus; and there needs to be more consistent use of the non-functional descriptor by decision makers.
We are also pleased to note that Professor Harrington has acknowledged the need to make changes to the guidance and handbook used by Atos healthcare professionals and the information available to DWP decision makers and the need to involve representative groups in the process – to ensure a more accurate assessment, based on the latest medical evidence.
Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, said: “We very much welcome the latest Harrington Review about the Work Capability Assessment and its focus on the more nuanced approach required when assessing people with fluctuating conditions. The poor quality of the current medical protocol on rheumatoid arthritis being issued to Atos healthcare professionals is something that we have campaigned on strongly and we are delighted to see the clear recommendation from Professor Harrington that patient-led organisations like the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society should now be involved in subsequent reviews to ensure this is kept up to date.”
A full copy of the report can be downloaded
here.
For further media information, please contact:
Jamie Hewitt, Government Affairs Manager, National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
Tel: 0845 458 3969, Email:
jamie@nras.org.uk
Notes for Editors:
1. The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) was launched in October 2001 and in a relatively short time has become established as the campaigning voice in the UK for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. NRAS provides a total one-stop-shop with support, information and advocacy for all people in the UK with RA, their carers and families. NRAS has a national volunteer network, a group of people with the disease who provide peer to peer support and provide additional resource to help NRAS in many different ways.
2. RA is a chronic, progressive and disabling autoimmune disease, which chiefly impacts upon joints but can also affect other organs such as the heart, eyes and lungs. RA is often confused with osteoarthritis, which is a different disease caused by wear and tear of the joints as we get older. RA impacts heavily on people of working age affecting around 690,000 of the UK adult population, with approximately 26,000 new diagnoses each year.