Just a quick question regarding a letter scheduling my appeal hearing that I recently received. According to the ESA guide downloaded from this site, the document should include the name of the doctor who is attending the hearing. The letter I received contains no such requirement. Does anyone know if this is a legal requirement or whether I should question it ? I'm assuming it's for confidentiality reasons in case the doctor knows me ? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not aware of any legal requirement to state the name of the doctor sitting on the tribunal in the notification letter and they did not do this when I was notified of a hearing, so I suspect it's just an administrative procedure that perhaps, is no longer or not always used.
The reason they may want to mention the doctor's name on the letter is in case you know the doctor. This would result in an adjournment and it could save time if you inform them in advance.
As it is extremely unlikely that you will know the medical member on the tribunal I don't think you need to worry about it unless you turn up to the hearing and find that you know him. The same applies to the Judge.
