Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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915. To ask the Minister for Health if all medical referee doctors are trained to examine fibromyalgia sufferers; and are they aware of the eighteen tender points and the severe pain touching these can bring on for the patient. [19621/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Medical referee doctors come from a variety of backgrounds including Occupational Health and General Practice. The majority of medical referee doctors work with referrals from the Department of Social Protection. Given the range of clinical presentations to a medical referee doctor, it is understood that he/she would generally be aware of the American College of Rheumatology Guidelines which have diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia including examination for tender points.

The training of medical doctors is, however, a matter for the relevant training bodies and my Department has no role in setting out what is required in training a doctor. Nor has my Department any role in setting out criteria for membership of panels of medical referees.