Are private doctors' views taken into account?

Are the DWP obliged to take into account the views of doctors that you have seen or are seeing privately if you put them down on the ESA forms?

(I used to be under the care of a NHS hospital pain specialist but due to the cuts I've been booted back to being under the care of just my GP. I can, however, see my pain specialist privately as he has a private practice; would be willing to try to afford to see him every now and again privately if I thought that his opinions would still have to be taken into account.)

Thanks in anticipation.

Nofuss

Thank you, Gordon. The fact that it is unlikely that a report from a private doctor will have any more or less weight than one from an NHS doctor is very good news for me as past decisions about my entitlement to benefits have greatly hinged on my pain specialist's reports.

Regards

Nofuss

When Mr Lansley's Bill goes through, will there be anything other than a private doctor?

nofuss wrote:

The fact that it is unlikely that a report from a private doctor will have any more or less weight than one from an NHS doctor is very good news for me as past decisions about my entitlement to benefits have greatly hinged on my pain specialist's reports.

I guess you're worried that the DWP might apply the "He who pays the piper calls the tune" principle to a private doctor's report?

Like an expert witness for the defence?

I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt whether the DWP have any way of knowing whether you saw a specialist privately - unless you choose to tell them - and you're under no obligation to do so.

I guess you're worried that the DWP might apply the "He who pays the piper calls the tune" principle to a private doctor's report?

Like an expert witness for the defence?

I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt whether the DWP have any way of knowing whether you saw a specialist privately - unless you choose to tell them - and you're under no obligation to do so.

Thanks very much for your reply, Mark. You're dead right, I am concerned about it possibly being seen like that - However, I'm hoping that, as the private pain specialist is also the same doctor that I had been seeing every 4 months or so for the last 10 years on the NHS (i.e. until recent cuts in services) his report might carry some good weight and be better received than a report from a private doctor who I've only just consulted and never saw before on the NHS.

I had been thinking though that I would probably put him down on the ESA form in answer to the question 'Does anyone else provide you with care, give you support or treatment?' as I do intend to see him privately every now and again for treatments if funds permit; (he does acupuncture and other treatments for pain too)...That would mean though that I would have to give his home address on the ESA50 as that's where he has his private practice...

I'm now thinking that maybe it would be better to just get a report from him and submit it away from the 'Does anyone else provide you with care, give you support or treatment?', although that too would have his home address on it, but, nevertheless, that might be better received.

I know there a no easy or definitive answers about such matters, but any experiences and thoughts on this would be gratefully received.