SPM50325 - Medical Referrals - The Referral: Doubtful incapacity or pregnancy related illness

If the Nominated Officer requires an independent medical report before giving a section 8 of SSCTOFA1999/article 7 of SSCTOFO(NI)1999 decision obtain the following information from either the employee or the employer:

• employee's:

• • full name,
  • address,
  • date of birth,
  • sex, and
  • NINO.

• name and address of the doctor who signed the latest doctor's statement
• date the present sickness began
• nature of the illness as certified by the doctor and, if possible, a copy of the current doctor's statement
• employee's occupation and main activities involved in doing the job
• outcome of any control action already taken by the employer during the present spell of sickness.

Once you have all the necessary information check to see if the employee applied for a decision on SP14 as this will contain their consent. If they did not, or a copy of this form is not available, get the employee's consent to the referral, using form SSP/SMP44. When the employee's consent has been received, obtain a report from their doctor, see SPM50320.

When you send form SMP42, SSP42 or SSP43 to the employee's doctor with a copy of their consent:

• include a first class prepaid envelope addressed to the Medical Services Centre, for their address see (This text has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000) 
• complete the employee's details on every page for the use of the doctor for their reply
• complete an IB55 file by noting the issue of the SSP42, SMP42 or SSP43 in the "other information" box.
• send the competed IB55 to Medical Services, for the address, see (This text has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000).
• BF for 6 weeks

If entitlement to SSP ceases before the result is received, notify Medical Services immediately, by telephoning Medical Services Customer Service

Result of referral

(This text has been withheld because of exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act 2000)

When the IB55 is returned refer the case to the Nominated Officer to make a decision.