Request

You asked us:

‘how many independent assessors there are for the Covid 19 claims, what is their job title, experience. And how are they paid, salaried or are they paid per assessment, and are they paid more or receive a bonus for claims resulting in no payout.’

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 15 April 2024.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

Our response

I am writing to advise you that I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHS Business Services Authority. See the below explanations about why that is the case.

Number of COVID-19 independent medical assessors

All Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) claims are medically assessed by an independent medical assessor. We have a contract with a third-party supplier to carry out medical assessments for all claims, not just COVID-19.

The number of independent medical assessors is managed by the supplier. We therefore do not hold information about the number of assessors working on claims at any one time.

Medical Assessor Payment

The NHSBSA has a contract with a third-party supplier to carry out independent medical assessments under the scheme. The value of the contract is not linked to the outcome of assessments.

The supplier is responsible for paying the independent medical assessors. We therefore do not hold information about how much each independent medical assessor is paid.

Assessors Experience and Job Title

All claims are assessed by an independent medical assessor with a consistent approach. Each case is considered on its own merits.

The medical qualifications and experience of the medical assessors are the responsibility of the medical assessment supplier. The contract with our supplier does not require them to tell us details of the qualifications of the medical assessors or their experience, only that:

• they are registered with the General Medical Council, with a licence to practise

• with at least five years’post graduate experience; and

• have experience of the performance of medical and/or disability assessment, addressing questions of causation and impact in the context of legislative or policy requirements to assist the decision maker.

Therefore, the medical experience of the medical assessors is not held on behalf of the NHSBSA and the NHSBSA does not have a business purpose to hold the information.

Data Queries

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing, the data please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “VDPS, NHSBSA Copyright 2024” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.