Board Of Medical Referees

Following the quite appalling decision of the Board of Medical Referees (BMR)to declare 3 of our retired members not permanently unfit and for their fire authority to use this as justification of stopping our membersʼ pensions - and the subsequent acceptance by the CLG that the BMR had acted unlawfully - this Conference urges the Executive Council to enter into talks with the CLG, through whatever channels available, to consider changing the make up of the BMR. One requirement should be the chair of the BMR should be non medical but who has legal knowledge and that the expert witness (in the appellantʼs infirmity) should be agreed by both sides. The position at the moment allows the same chair and witnesses attending nearly all the appeals causing a familiarity with the employerʼs side to the detriment of our memberʼs appeal. Finally Conference further applauds the efforts made on behalf of our 3 retired members by head office, Thompsonʼs solicitors and the wider membership.