The Idiots Guide to London 1

[KaiserD 12]

If you don't want my ramblings, scroll down for medical experience.

I have the most appauling sense of direction, but luckily I had a friend staying with me to keep me calm. I dread to think about my mental state if I had gone alone Anyway, for anyone who doesn't have a clue about London (like me!) here's a few notes/observations.

We took a bus from Runcorn Old Town to Victoria coach station, there was a little confusion after getting off but it doesn't take long to find some signs. If looking for the Tube, keep going through the train station cause it's just a bit beyond. (I ended up in a car park going "where am I?" )

Watch out for people in a hurry, too. Comming from Cornwall I am used to old biddies hobbling around at 1 mile an hour everywhere. Even the streets are like rush hour in London.

We were staying at Travelodge in Marylebone, it is just opposite the Underground Station. As it happened we got off at Baker Street, in which case turn right and keep going straight, even I could do that! The room was 70-something pounds but I ordered breakfast as well (6.99 for as much as you could eat), it was pretty good but the toaster was dodgy. The staff were very helpful and patient (I was very bedraggled and stressed by the time I got to there). The room was nice, clean and very warm. Jon didn't think the bed was very comfy but I thought it was ok, I forgot to turn off the radiator at night so we both woke up half way through almost cooking

Got up, showered, sleepily went downstairs. By now getting very fed up of posh London accents, they made me feel very out of place (if you are the kind of person intimidated by silly things like that, don't go into Harrods!)

Anyway, by now even this idiot had a vague idea of the underground. After a small walk around Baker Street, we took one tube to Green Park and onwards to Knightsbridge - in the right direction even

*********************** Knights Bridge Doctors

I don't understand the two pictures pinned in the topics here, I guess it has moved or something because there were no particular signs saying where to go for the medical centre. Anyway, when you go down Basil Street like it says on the directions it's opposite that Capitol hotel. If you're looking at the building marked going "is this really it??" the chances are it is! A little plaque saying 14 - 25 (or something) Basil Mansions, so hit the little bell (there's a camera behind you) and you should be let in.

There should be a lift in front of you, just turn to the right.

The receptionists were lovely, I came just a little early for the appointment (1:15) but was not collected until 1:30. They give you another questionnaire. I saw the vaccination lady first, I had to have MMR (because idiots at my own surgery said I had had it when I didn't), of course an extra £35 but not the end of the world.

Put into seperate waiting room. And waited. And waited. Waited a bit more.

The guy who examined me, I thought was kinda rude. I was anxious and needed to be put at ease, one of the first things he says is "You don't really get depression at 22, so what's wrong with you?". So we went through various life issues and my medication (depression people, don't forget your GP letter, mine cost £10 by the way). When he got on with the other bits he was more friendly then, did height and weight. Blood pressure, various breathing exercises, blood test. The physical examination of tummy and genital area *shivers*. It's ok though, it was only like 2 seconds if that lol

I was glad to get out, had to go back to waiting room (in rather unglamerous hospital gown), but time was getting on, I was supposed to be at the bus station for 2:50 and it was about 2:20. I was getting quite anxious with people taking their time. Thankfully I happened to mention to the receptionist, who said she would find out how long they would be. Another lady came in and told me I was going to miss my bus. I hope she wasn't too upset with me because obviously I was quite distressed at this point. She did her best to hurry the radiologist though, who was a little put out I think at having to be hurried.

The whole thing took about an hour and a half, but in normal circumstances would have been longer, I think. Stay an extra day if you have to it's not worth the panic of having to rush yourself! As it was, we grabbed a taxi from around the corner at Harrods and just caught the bus by a whisker!

All in all the staff at the medical centre was a mixed bag, the receptionists were the most helpful.

It was my first time to London, I can't say I like it to be honest! I felt so icky all the time and many London people were impatient and unhelpful, but I'm sure other peoples experiences are different. Hope that helps!!

[Fatty 0]

This is really helpful, thank you.

My husband and kids have their medicals scheduled for 20th November. I'm coming too, because there's no way my husband could cope with the kids on his own.

I'm rather worried though about me all pregnant, and my husband and I trying to get around busy London with a 4 year old and a 2 year old! I sure wish they did medicals in Scotland.

We'll be staying over the night before, because our appointment is in the morning. Then we'll get flights home in the evening.

Hopefully we'll survive to tell the tale

I also have a dreadful sense of direction, so I appreciate all these threads where kind people such as yourself have gone into details about how to get there. Thank you.

Oh and about the depression...what sort of thing would need to go down in the letter? My husband has been on anti-depressants for a good 3 or so years now. He's been off them now for a few weeks and has an appointment to get officially signed off them by the doc or whatever next week. What should he ask for in the letter? Just to detail that he wasn't phsycotic or something? Or to mention the dosage he was on or the circumstances?

[KaiserD 12]

I'm rather worried though about me all pregnant, and my husband and I trying to get around busy London with a 4 year old and a 2 year old! I sure wish they did medicals in Scotland

I hear you, I think it's shockingly inconvenient...why are they the only approved physicians?

As long as you give yourself adequate extra time to get around, you should be ok. The tube rides are really frequent, or if you just can't get your head around the Underground Map it only cost us about £4 to get from Knightsbride to Victoria station by taxi (it was £3 for a tube ride, however many it takes to get to your desired destination).

I was a bit anxious about the depression bit - I got my info from digging around on here. The doctor doing my medical was more concerned about the facts like I havn't been hospitalised but I have been on medication.

My GP wrote something along the lines of "this lady has had mild depression and has seen a councellor. She has no history of hospitalisation or suicide attempts and has not seen a phsyciatrist. Cassie has been on Fluoxetine since September 2005"

I remembered doses and explained them though they were not written down.

Even though in factual terms I am a low risk, the KB doctor wrote something like "may be susceptible to episodes in the future" so don't be alarmed if your hubby's GP or the doctor doesn't write something conclusive about being "cured" from depression. As most people have said on here, they're more worried about phsycosis so try not to worry!

Hope that helps!

[Mags 112]

I actually find your description of the whole medical a bit misleading really. The majority of people who have had their medicals at the Knightsbridge Doctors were treated well.

The easiest way to find them...get off at Knightsbridge on the Piccadilly line. Use the exit marked "Harrods". Follow the little side street it exits onto (not the main road) and then turn first left. The doctors is just on the right hand side of the street. It is not even a five minute walk from the tube.

The medical I had was quick, efficent and handled very well. Staff were funny (especially the X-ray fella) and courteous and I have NO complaints. Any questions I had they answered well. My son has ADHD and I had to answer questions about him. These were handled well by my examining doctor. From start to finish it was around 45 minutes and they were pretty busy.

If you are not happy with your medical fair enough, but in the majority of cases these doctors are pretty good IMO.

Edited November 8, 2006 by mags

[Fatty 0]

Thanks KaiserD I appreciate the info!

[no name 1]

If you are not happy with your medical fair enough, but in the majority of cases these doctors are pretty good IMO.

[KaiserD 12]

I actually find your description of the whole medical a bit misleading really. The majority of people who have had their medicals at the Knightsbridge Doctors were treated well.

Misleading, how exactly? The directions they gave were fine, but there wasn't any signage on the door saying "this is knightsbridge doctors". After all, a lot of non-London people must pass that way, it wouldn't hurt to make it a bit clearer.

I said who I thought was friendly and efficient. I didn't condemn everyone but I have the right to say how I feel I was treated. I'm glad it went well for most people but I'm not being rude, misleading or poo stirring just because my story was different to yours.

[Mags 112]

I actually find your description of the whole medical a bit misleading really. The majority of people who have had their medicals at the Knightsbridge Doctors were treated well.

Misleading, how exactly? The directions they gave were fine, but there wasn't any signage on the door saying "this is knightsbridge doctors". After all, a lot of non-London people must pass that way, it wouldn't hurt to make it a bit clearer.

I said who I thought was friendly and efficient. I didn't condemn everyone but I have the right to say how I feel I was treated. I'm glad it went well for most people but I'm not being rude, misleading or poo stirring just because my story was different to yours.

Misleading because the majority of people who come through that particular branch of the doctors have been impressed by their professionalism. I don't want people to panic or worry unnecessarily about their upcoming medicals.

As I said before:

If you are not happy with your medical fair enough, but in the majority of cases these doctors are pretty good IMO

That was my whole point.

Edited November 8, 2006 by mags

[KaiserD 12]

Perhaps it was not your intention but you communicate that because your ordeal was good that I am fear mongering and being troublesome but it wasn't that way at all

I wondered, perhaps, if you thought that because the staff were nice to you that I did something to upset them first or be rude. I can promise you this wasn't the case - being customer service staff I am used to getting shouted at daily for things beyond my control, so I am aware of how I communicate with people outside my job. Maybe the guy had a chip on his shoulder, I don't know, but that's not something you say to a person with depression.

[Mags 112]

Perhaps it was not your intention but you communicate that because your ordeal was good that I am fear mongering and being troublesome but it wasn't that way at all

No, my whole point was to balance out your comments. I was trying to reassure people, not start a debate about it with you. My comment's aim was to give people awaiting medicals a reassurance that the majority of us applicants have had good service from the KDocs. Yes, there are bound to be people who find the experience less than satsifactory *shrugs* that's life in general. It happens. But the majority have been satisfied. I don't know of any other way I can put this to make it any clearer for you. I'm not getting at you at all. Please don't continue to take it personally.

Edited November 9, 2006 by mags

[missy_antha 0]

I was meant to have my Medical in Knightbridge, but it then got changed to the new office which opened 30th October, at Bentinck Mansion on Bentinck St. Opposite Bond Street Tube.

The first I knew that the address had changed was when they phoned me a couple of days before to confirm the appointment. Apparently the Knightsbridge office is no longer doing Medicals on a Monday

So make sure when you book your Medical which office you are going to, it will be one of these two.

I had my Medical last week and I was in and out within an hour.

[Jackson1975 0]

I actually find your description of the whole medical a bit misleading really. The majority of people who have had their medicals at the Knightsbridge Doctors were treated well.

The easiest way to find them...get off at Knightsbridge on the Piccadilly line. Use the exit marked "Harrods". Follow the little side street it exits onto (not the main road) and then turn first left. The doctors is just on the right hand side of the street. It is not even a five minute walk from the tube.

The medical I had was quick, efficent and handled very well. Staff were funny (especially the X-ray fella) and courteous and I have NO complaints. Any questions I had they answered well. My son has ADHD and I had to answer questions about him. These were handled well by my examining doctor. From start to finish it was around 45 minutes and they were pretty busy.

If you are not happy with your medical fair enough, but in the majority of cases these doctors are pretty good IMO.

Yep I found the x ray man funny too AND the doctor was very child friendly too. I went to Basil Mansions

I did find a mistake on my vaccination records - copied my the medical secretary, however, once I advised them they sorted it out and sent it to me the next morning.