Helpful Information
Which Medical Do I Need? It is very important that you check with your employer/operator precisely which medical you require to undertake your proposed work. Particularly with respect to the Near Offshore and Landbased Renewable Energy sector, there appears some degree of confusion amongst prospective and current workers regarding which medical they require.
We regret that we cannot be held responsible if, retrospectively, it turns out the incorrect medical has been undertaken. It is your responsibility to check BEFORE you book the medical.
Chaperone Policy
Any person of either sex can either bring or ask for provision of a chaperone to be present during the medical examination. If you would like one provided, please send and email to us at info@humbermed.co.uk requesting this, as it might be difficult to provide at short notice.
The medical does not involve any form of intimate examination, but will require removal of some clothing to undertake the required examination.
LGV (HGV) and PCV (Group 2) medicals
To get a Provisional / Learner Licence to drive a truck or bus / coach you must have a medical examination undertaken by a Doctor. The medical doesn't have to be completed by your own local GP who may charge you much more.
What to bring with you for your HGV or LGV / PCV medical:
Please note that the minimum medical standards for Eyesight were altered by the DVLA in May 2012 (further information is available on the DVLAs website). The advice here if you are unsure whether your eyesight meets the new standard or if you have not had an eye examination undertaken by an Optician within the last 2 years is to book an Opticians appointment to be sure your eyesight is good enough BEFORE you come for your appointment.
The most common reason to Fail the medical is when a person does not meet the eyesight standard. The minimum eyesight standard set for LGV/PCV drivers (C1, C1+E, D1, D1+E, C, C+E, D and D+E) is higher than that required for car drivers.
If you are currently driving on a Group 2 Licence it is your responsibility to ensure that your eye sight is good enough to meet the standard otherwise you are breaking the law.
The DVLA sets the medical standards for Group 2 driving licence entitlement. There is some very useful information that you can download here that outlines some of the important points of the medical.
A D4 medical form will need to be filled out by the doctor at the time of your examination. You can download a D4 form from here (via the DVLA Website) although we do have plenty of them at the clinic. There is a very useful explanatory leaflet (called Inf4D) about the D4 form, which is also available to download from here
Please note we CAN NOT undertake Taxi Medicals, these must be undertaken by your GP as they need to be carried out taking into account the applicants full medical records.
HSE Dive Medicals
Dr Williams is Registered with the HSE as an Approved Medical Examiner of Divers and undertakes the HSE Diving medicals for Humbermed Limited. (Please note Dr Williams retired for the NHS in September 2018 but continues to work for Humbermed Limited).
At the earliest possible stage, it is in their own interest that people considering a career in diving should complete a medical questionnaire that looks at whether anything in their medical history would preclude them from a long-term career in diving. The questionnaire can be downloaded from here: Medical Questionnaire for Diving at Work. After completion of the questionnaire by the candidate diver it needs confirmation by the divers GP. The GP is not required to physically examine the diver to confirm the medical history. General advice to the GP on medical standards for diving is contained on the HSE Diving Website. Your GP will need to sign and stamp the questionnaire form which you will need to bring with you to your First HSE Dive medical appointment, as without this we will not be able to undertake the HSE Dive Medical (this is not our decision it is the HSE Diving Division and they can be contacted by email:- diving@hse.gov.uk).
'The Medical Assessment and Examination of Divers Information (MA1)' which can be downloaded from here: MA1.
At the First HSE Dive Medical Appointment the medical questionnaire will be examined by the AMED. The presence of a disqualifying medical condition at this stage may avoid the expense of inappropriately proceeding to a full initial HSE medical examination.
Before beginning training and or assessment you must pass an initial medical examination carried out by an AMED (Approved Medical Examiner of Divers) to ensure you are medically fit to dive. The AMED also needs to make you aware of any underlying health problems, which could affect your fitness in the future. If you pass the medical you will be issued with a certificate of medical fitness to dive, which is valid for up to 12 months. This must be renewed annually and will include a fitness test.
For the initial medical examination (HSE Dive Medical - First), it is important to bring with you the above referred to questionnaire, signed and stamped by your GP. If you do not as already mentioned, we shall be unable to proceed with the examination.
What to bring with you for your Dive medical:
- Photo ID - - this is essential as the medical cannot be undertaken without confirmation of you identity;
- Spectacles/contact lenses (if you wear them);
- Be prepared to pass a urine specimen at the time of the examination;
- A list of medication taken;
- Trainers/shorts for the exercise test;
- For your first medical the Annex A questionnaire referred to above;
- For renewals your previous dive medical MA2 form and dive log book(s).
Please note that our doctors do NOT undertake PADI recreational dive medical examinations.
Oil & Gas UK (UKOOA) Medicals
Both Dr Clayton and Dr Williams are registered with OGUK and are able to undertake the required medical assessments stipulated by Oil and Gas UK Ltd.
Every offshore worker must undergo and pass a medical examination which classifies them as medically fit to work in the offshore environment. For UK waters, only physicians who are approved by the Oil & Gas UK Health Advisory Committee, should carry out the examination. Oil & Gas UK's former title is UKOOA.
In 2015 we trained and are certified to offer Bideltoid or shoulder measurements for offshore workers to comply with the new requirements for helicopter passengers. This is a requirement for all helicopter passengers travelling offshore in the UK. All passengers should be measured to make sure their shoulder width is compatible with the nearest authorised underwater escape exit:-
'From 1st April 2015, the CAA will prohibit helicopter operators from carrying passengers on offshore flights, except in response to an offshore emergency, whose body size, including required safety and survival equipment, is incompatible with the nearest authorised underwater escape exit'. (CAA Report, CAP 1145, February 2014).
The offshore medical certificate, as it is commonly known, is only valid for a limited time, and you need to renew it to continue working offshore. For UK waters, all assets are controlled by Oil & Gas UK, and renewals, as from 1st January 2007, are required every 2 years irrespective of your age.
With effect from 1st January 2018 you can book an OGUK medical and have the Assessment of Fitness for in-water training using Category A PSTASS Emergency Breathing Equipment medical done at the same time - just select this option when booking your medical using the online booking system.
If you would like to download, print out and complete the OGUK medical questionnaire form, please bring it with you when you come for the medical, this will save you completing the form at the surgery prior to the medical examination.
What to bring with you for your offshore medical:
- Photo ID - this is essential as the medical cannot be undertaken without confirmation of you identity;
- Spectacles/contact lenses (if you wear them);
- Be prepared to pass a urine specimen at the time of the examination;
- A list of medication taken.
Wind Farm (RUK) Medicals
Wind Farms are an expanding technology and the Standards for Fitness for work on these farms is essentially being driven by RenewableUK. At the moment, there are no specific registration or regulatory requirements for doctors wishing to undertake these medicals. However, it is acknowledged by RenewableUK that doctors regularly undertaking OGUK medicals are well placed to effectively assess an individuals fitness for work in this industry sector.
Further information is available from the RenewableUK.com website.
'Windfarm Medicals' are very similar to the OGUK medical with an additional requirement to undertake an exercise (Chester Step) test.
Please advise the doctor at the time of the medical if you also require an OGUK and Chester Step Test Certificate as well as the RUK Certificate.
What to bring with you for your Windfarm medical:
- Photo ID - this is essential as the medical cannot be undertaken without confirmation of you identity;
- spectacles/contact lenses (if you wear them);
- be prepared to pass a urine specimen at the time of the examination;
- a list of medication taken;
- trainers/shorts for the exercise test.