Governments plan to use specialists in diagnosis of whiplash claims supported by leading GP
Industry News : 27 June 2012
The Governments plans to cut the cost of whiplash claims by requiring claimants to undergo examination by a specialist has been supported by top GP Dr Peter Swinyard.
Dr Swinyard, chairman of the Family Doctors Association, has spoken out about the significant increase in patients complaining of stiff necks following car accidents - something he refers to as a ‘trend’.
He believes that the increase in stiff neck complaints seemed to increase with the arrival of no win, no fee arrangements. As a result, Dr Swinyard feels that doctors are left in a difficult position whereby they need to diagnose an injury even if they suspect fakery.
The Government did plan to create a team of whiplash specialists to confirm a whiplash injury before a personal injury claim could be started, but claimant groups have raised doubts over this.
However, Dr Swinyard, whose group consists of more than 1,000 GP practices, stated, ‘You always assume people are not lying to you, but with the best will in the world you sometimes have a hunch things are not as they seem.
‘I’ve been in general practice for 27 years and the number of people coming in just to have their whiplash documented is very much higher than it used to be. It would be greatly in the public interest to have specialists looking at this diagnosis. If people are suffering from “compensation-itis”, the sooner they’re weeded out and sent on their way the better.’
Details of how the panel would work have yet to be outlined by The Ministry of Justice, however an announcement is expected later this summer.
The British Medical Association has told ministers that it would welcome a whiplash specialist panel to provide independent assessments, but did stress that the pressure on GPs would not be reduced when giving a second diagnosis.
A spokesperson said, ‘The only way this may reduce workload would be if the insurance company told the patient not to go to the GP and instead referred them to this alternative service.
‘Patients would also still need the GP to provide a fit note before they could go back to work.’
Chairman of Motor Accident Solicitors Society, Donna Scully, said that genuine victims must not be prevented from claiming following the attempt to raise the diagnosis threshold.