All decisions are made by a DWP decision maker. They can be challenged through the normal reconsiderations and appeals process (see Chapter 55 ).

The decision maker first decides whether you have had an industrial accident and, if so, whether it arose out of and in the course of your work. If the decision is in your favour, you will normally be asked to take part in a medical assessment; this can be face-to-face or by video.

If an assessment is arranged, you will be assessed by a healthcare professional working for a private sector company contracted by the DWP (see Chapter 2(1) ). An audio recording will be made of the assessment, unless you ask for one not to be made. The healthcare professional will provide the decision maker with a report giving an opinion on whether you have a loss of faculty as a result of the accident and, if so, the extent to which that loss of faculty leads to disablement and the period over which it is likely to la