RTA Claims Process - SPECIAL UPDATE

Welcome to this special Mobile Doctors bulletin, which gives you an update on the progress with the RTA Claims Process portal and includes some relevant presentations, which I would encourage all of you to read.

Firstly, please be aware that the Ministry of Justice has announced that there will be a delay in launching the new portal until April 30th 2010. 
 
Kevin Westall from the Ministry of Justice made the following statement to stakeholders on the 25th February.
 
You will be aware that the new claims process for Low Value Road Traffic Accident Personal Injury claims is due to be implemented on 6 April 2010.

The new process requires the documents to be exchanged electronically. This requirement was specifically requested by the industry. As you know the industry has been working to develop a secure IT portal system for the RTA process in order for personal information to be exchanged securely in accordance with the Data Protection Act. This is an industry led IT solution and MoJ has only been involved to ensure rule changes are reflected in the development of the portal.

There will be 2 means of accessing the IT portal: via a web browser (for those issuing only small volumes) or through a system to system application for bulk issuers. 
 
MoJ understands that the web browser route has been fully developed and will be available in time for 6 April. It also understands that the work is well advanced in developing and delivering the system to system application. However, following a checkpoint meeting on Monday this week, a request to move the implementation date was made by the IT Project Steering Group (IT PSG). They were concerned about difficulties that users who wish to adopt the system to system method of transmitting data will have in making the necessary changes to their own internal case management systems by 6 April. They have, therefore, asked MoJ to defer the implementation date to 30 April. 
 
Minsters are determined to introduce the new process, which will deliver fair compensation to injured parties in a speedy manner and at proportionate cost, as soon as possible. The industry was informed of the planned implementation date in summer 2009 and therefore it has been aware of 6 April date for a considerable period of time. However, Ministers recognise the practical concerns raised by IT PSG and have therefore agreed to defer the implementation date to 30 April. This date will be set out in the SI introducing the new process, which will be laid early next month. This date will not be changed any further. 
 
Kevin Westall
Head of Civil Policy and Procedure Branch,
Ministry of Justice

The delay does not change the fact that we all as businesses have to be ready for April 30th and to that end I would encourage you to download the rules from the Mobile Doctors website:

protocol v 16 (I would draw your attention to the specific area, which covers medical reporting in paragraph 7.1 onwards), part 14 vs 12, part 36 offers to settle, practice direction 8B, section V1 of part 45 .  

This week Mobile Doctors attended the Claims Standards Council conference in Manchester. Speakers included Kevin Westall from the MoJ, Fraser Fundell from IDSL , David Bott from Bott & Co Solicitors, George Bladon from 80E and Matthew Scott from AXA. 

I would recommend all claimant solicitors examine David Bott's presentation. As many of you will know, he is a council member of APIL and also a key member of the MoJ steering group. His presentation gave a practical view on how his firm is gearing up for the changes and illustrates the business challenges he is facing. 

Claims notification pack information to ensure required data is forwarded between parties:

Acknowledgement of service, claim notification form 17 Feb, court proceedings pack part A, defendant only claim notification form 17 Feb, interim settlement pack form 17 Feb, medical report form 17 Feb, notice of issue N209a 17 Feb, stage 2 settlement pack.
 
We will have some new film interviews on our You Tube site in the next couple of days looking at referral fees and the future of ATE insurance. Keep a look out on www.youtube.com/mobiledoctors <http://www.youtube.com/mobiledoctors> .
 
I'll keep you up to date on any new developments as they occur, in the mean time if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Mobile Doctors team.
 

Matthew       
   

Ends

Mobile Doctors is a supporter of Brake the road safety charity.

Ends:

  • Mobile Doctors, established in 1989, has grown organically to become one of the leading suppliers of medico-legal reports for personal injury claims in the UK. It provides independent and objective medical evidence via a national panel of medical experts and therapists.
  • Mobile Doctors has a database of approximately 2,500 medical experts covering many areas of the UK and currently provides approximately 70,000 reports out of approximately 600,000 reports required annually.
  • In addition to its core medical report service, Mobile Doctors has also successfully developed a comprehensive medical investigation, diagnostic and rehabilitation service.  Provided in partnership with Nuffield Health, the clinically governed services include physiotherapy treatment for claimants' musculo-skeletal disorders.

Mobile Doctors Plc listed on AIM 18th July 2007