MAT Quarterly

Q-COMP attempts to accommodate members as much as possible in terms of paying doctors appropriately for tribunals that are either reduced from the usual two or three cases to one matter (referred to as a half tribunal), or in circumstances where the tribunal is completely cancelled. 

 

Since 2008, the policy has been that full payment is made to doctors when tribunals are reduced to half tribunals or cancelled completely within two weeks of the scheduled hearing date.  We do not reduce the rate if a worker fails to attend or if members conclude hearings within the time allotted for the tribunal.

 

If the cancelled appointments lead to a full tribunal being adjusted to a half tribunal or a tribunal being completely cancelled more than two weeks prior to the hearing date, then the payment level is adjusted to reflect that (i.e. half tribunal rate for a tribunal with only one matter and no payment for a cancelled tribunal).

 

The rationale for this policy was that this is considered a fair compromise when there is reduced demand on the member's time and there is a reasonable amount of notice given (two weeks) for the member to be able to make alternative arrangements for the remainder of their morning or afternoon.

 

This policy was put to the Chairs of the respective tribunals for discussion and possible review at their meeting on 6 October 2011.  At this meeting the Tribunal Chairs affirmed their support for the policy to remain unchanged.