62Medical examinationsE+W+S
(1)The Social Security Act 1998 (c. 14) is amended as follows.
(2)In section 19 (medical examination required by Secretary of State), in subsections (1) and (2)(b), for “medical practitioner” substitute “ health care professional approved by the Secretary of State ”.
(3)In section 20 (medical examination required by appeal tribunal), in subsection (2), for “medical practitioner” substitute “ health care professional approved by the Secretary of State ”.
(4)In that section, after subsection (2), insert—
“(2A)The power under subsection (2) to refer a person to a health care professional approved by the Secretary of State includes power to specify the description of health care professional to whom the person is to be referred.”
(5)In section 39 (interpretation), in subsection (1), after the definition of “Commissioner” 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, 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 as the Secretary of State may prescribe;”.