Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007

Medical examinationsN.I.

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

55—(1) The 1998 Order is amended as follows.

(2) In Article 2 (interpretation), in paragraph (2), after the definition of “the Department” insert—

health care professional” means—

(a)a registered medical practitioner;

(b)a registered nurse;

(c)an occupational therapist or physiotherapist registered with a regulatory body established by an Order in Council under section 60 of the Health Act 1999 (c. 8); or

(d)a member of such other profession regulated by a body mentioned in section 25(3) of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17) as the Department may prescribe;.

(3) In Article 19 (medical examination required by the Department), in paragraphs (1) and (2)(b), for “medical practitioner” substitute “ health care professional approved by the Department ”.

(4) In Article 20 (medical examination required by appeal tribunal), in paragraph (2), for “medical practitioner” substitute “ health care professional approved by the Department ”.

(5) In that Article, after paragraph (2), insert—

(2A) The power under paragraph (2) to refer a person to a health care professional approved by the Department includes power to specify the description of health care professional to whom the person is to be referred..