Health Care Professional (HCP) examination Reports

A HCP is a practitioner involved with patient care. This would include doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. They will have received training in disability assessment medicine. In addition they are instructed in the assessment of care and mobility needs relating to the entitlement to DLA/AA.

A HCP examination report will provide details of the diagnosis (where known), brief history of the condition, treatment, a record of clinical examination, severity and likely disabling effects of the condition on day-to-day living.

The HCP examination report is able to provide a critical appraisal of whether a person's claimed care and mobility needs are reasonable in the light of the disabling condition(s).

A HCP examination report can be particularly helpful in situations where the existing medical evidence (usually factual reports) appear to be contradictory, or where factual reports do not appear to cover areas relevant to entitlement.

When the Decision Maker decides to request a HCP examination report, it is worth considering the exact nature of the information required and to formulate a submission with some specific questions for the HCP. It may also be useful to enclose copies of factual reports, especially if existing evidence is contradictory.

Amended April 2008