27th July 2018 - Medical Review - Knightsbridge (Mental Health)

[LeesaMarie 206]

Hi all,

 

I was going to wait until the whole process was finished to post, but some of this information may be relevant to anyone having a medical up and coming.

 

Getting out of bond street station

Go up the escalators, walk past McDonald's and use that exit. From there it is a 3 or 5 minute walk in one direction until you need to cross a road, and walk down a little cut through, and then at the end of that street it is on your right. Before the cut through on the opposite side is a Costa with an area downstairs to sit which is air conditioned (thank god).

 

Echoing what everyone else says: everyone there is  really nice and friendly. 

 

Piece of advice: Organise your documents to hand over. If you need photocopies try to do this before hand. It seemed like I made it easier by having photocopied everything I provided already, and that they could just keep the file I handed to them with the exception of the ARCO certificate, and your passport.

 

Mental Health

 

In 2005/2006 I was a depressed teenager and was referred to counselling and placed on anti depressants, however, both were short lived with no real outcome. I just kind of went on with my life and carried my baggage with me. I self harmed as a teenager, and had 2 or 3 other times where I caused harm to myself up until my mid twenties. One of these being an overdose in 2016. Before this episode however, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, and was receiving treatment in the form of medication and psychotherapy ("DBT"). I am glad to report that I am well, and continue to be well, and proof of that is after today's tiny little heart break I am just moving forward instead of being paralyzed by sadness, or other negative emotions.

 

Of course when this process came up I have been dreading the medical since day 1, so I began to be super pro active. I obtained a detailed report from my Therapist of my treatment, a letter from my Psychiatrist detailing my diagnosis and treatment plan, and a letter from my GP. All three letters also stated that there was no concern I was a risk to myself or others. I thought that this would be enough; I had assumed that my recent diagnosis would overwrite my teenage years and they would be seen as relating and thus, the evidence supporting my current mental state as being very well would be just fine. Unfortunately that was not the case. This was not enough.

 

They have requested more information on when I was a teenager, which sadly is not available which I explained. The doctor said that it was okay, and for the doctor to write back with a letter saying that this information was not available to them. He said this may result in me having to see one of their Psychiatrists, but it is what it is. They've also requested more information on when I had taken an overdose. 

 

From today what I think is the best course of action for anyone with health problems (mental or otherwise) is to obtain your medical summary, and have a letter covering off every single health issue marked on there, even if in your mind it is insignificant. It's always hard to know what to provide, but I think you'll be safe with letters from the appropriate people explaining and providing more information for any questions they may have. To be more consign, if something significant is written on your medical summary, have a letter to explain it. 

 

Vaccinations

I had read on VJ that as long as the immunization is no more than 10 years old, this is fine. This turned out not to be the case. I had Tetanus and Diphtheria in 2013, which even my GP thought was fine, but I was told I needed to get a new one. I opted to have it done there at the charge of £40 so that it's on the record they gave me for the AOS process. If I went somewhere else and got it, it would not be included on this medical exam, and this is the only place in the UK that will be accepted at the AOS stage.

 

Extra

Since my GP back in 2015/16 prior to my diagnoses wrote down there was a concern about my alcohol consumption (because I had completely lost it and went out a lot) I was also required to provide a second urine sample (which was supervised), for a drugs screening. This was £50.

 

Most of this upset is caused to the potential delays this may cause, so if you are reading this and you are thinking "what if they ask me about this" - go and get a letter from your doctor explaining the situation. If your doctor has no information on it, they can simply write a letter advising of this.

 

I hope this helps somewhat, and of course, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

[Meisha&Jake 869]

Im sorry it didnt go as straight forward Leesa! But what a great post to advise others for the future.

 

Hopefully when Knightsbridge receives your extra information then all will be well, fingers crossed for you x

[LeesaMarie 206]

1 hour ago, Meisha&Jake said:

Im sorry it didnt go as straight forward Leesa! But what a great post to advise others for the future.

 

Hopefully when Knightsbridge receives your extra information then all will be well, fingers crossed for you x

thank you love x

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, LeesaMarie said:

had read on VJ that as long as the immunization is no more than 10 years old, this is fine. This turned out not to be the case. I had Tetanus and Diphtheria in 2013, which even my GP thought was fine, but I was told I needed to get a new one. I opted to have it done there at the charge of £40 so that it's on the record they gave me for the AOS process. If I went somewhere else and got it, it would not be included on this medical exam, and this is the only place in the UK that will be accepted at the AOS stage.

That is just wrong of them to make you get a new one. Did you ask them to explain? Tetanus is the part that should be renewed every 10 years. If yours was in 2013, then you were in compliance. Can you take a picture of what they recorded on that part of your sheet? I am curious. 

 

So sorry that you are delayed. Disappointing when you get so close to the finish line. I guess there was a multitude of significant things so they need to get more information than normal to cover themselves before they give the green light. Alcohol falls under the mental health umbrella so it kinda loaded up on that topic. 

 

Cheers 🥂 to knowing the steps to take to finish up with Knightsbridge. It's better than guessing and wondering.

[LeesaMarie 206]

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

That is just wrong of them to make you get a new one. Did you ask them to explain? Tetanus is the part that should be renewed every 10 years. If yours was in 2013, then you were in compliance. Can you take a picture of what they recorded on that part of your sheet? I am curious. 

 

So sorry that you are delayed. Disappointing when you get so close to the finish line. I guess there was a multitude of significant things so they need to get more information than normal to cover themselves before they give the green light. Alcohol falls under the mental health umbrella so it kinda loaded up on that topic. 

 

Cheers 🥂 to knowing the steps to take to finish up with Knightsbridge. It's better than guessing and wondering.

Sure, here's the record they gave me:

 

 

Now when I think about it though, maybe what I had required a booster, as they have told me this one I've been given needs a booster in 6-12 months, so perhaps that's it.

 

Yeah it is disappointing, I'm not mad about and totally understand, it's just frustrating, At least the doctors there want to make sure you have everything before sending it off, I just wish what was needed was more clear. It's a learning curve though, and at least I have been able to share the information with others now. Don't panic if your GP can't give you information that they want. They need to show that they have conducted everything correctly and carried out their exam, and done what they could to make sure there are no gaps in your medical history.

 

Thanks for your kind words!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, LeesaMarie said:

Now when I think about it though, maybe what I had required a booster, as they have told me this one I've been given needs a booster in 6-12 months, so perhaps that's it.

I don't thinks so. I thought maybe they gave you Tdap with the pertussis component in it (p). But they clearly put it on the Td line. That's not due for renewal for 10 years. You have no record of pertussis ever being given. 

[LeesaMarie 206]

8 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

I don't thinks so. I thought maybe they gave you Tdap with the pertussis component in it (p). But they clearly put it on the Td line. That's not due for renewal for 10 years. You have no record of pertussis ever being given. 

I would have had this as a child but I don't have my red book or access to any record at all prior to 2006. I also had MMR at school but no record of it so had to get it done again. Seems that when everything went digital my hand written notes were never loaded across, and in moving surgeries it seems I've now lost all of that, which is a pain.

[cazzz84 44]

Back to this subject again folks, I visited my GP last week and took a note of what has been written above to include in the letter.

i collected the letter from my gp today and this is what it said. I hope this is sufficient?

[LeesaMarie 206]

1 minute ago, cazzz84 said:

Back to this subject again folks, I visited my GP last week and took a note of what has been written above to include in the letter.

i collected the letter from my gp today and this is what it said. I hope this is sufficient?

This might be okay, but they may also ask for information regarding the diagnosis and events surrounding it. In which case, if you have time (and they are able), just as a precaution, ask them to print out any notes that they have on the system from any visits you had in this time about your depressive episode. Something to support the letter if that makes sense? 

[Meisha&Jake 869]

11 minutes ago, LeesaMarie said:

This might be okay, but they may also ask for information regarding the diagnosis and events surrounding it. In which case, if you have time (and they are able), just as a precaution, ask them to print out any notes that they have on the system from any visits you had in this time about your depressive episode. Something to support the letter if that makes sense? 

I agree with Leesa - my first letter from GP didnt give exact dates, therefore at my medical i was asked to get my GP to give “full history” - i know every case is different but its better to have a more detailed letter than not.. also the words they are looking for is “not a harm/risk to themselves or others”

[cazzz84 44]

19 minutes ago, LeesaMarie said:

This might be okay, but they may also ask for information regarding the diagnosis and events surrounding it. In which case, if you have time (and they are able), just as a precaution, ask them to print out any notes that they have on the system from any visits you had in this time about your depressive episode. Something to support the letter if that makes sense? 

I had to fight to tooth and nail to get a letter in the first place. I do have a copy of my full medical records which I was thinking of copying the prescriptions page and highlighting the relevant medications I was on and also highlight the consultations relating to the time I was prescribed. Maybe that would suffice?

[Meisha&Jake 869]

3 minutes ago, cazzz84 said:

I had to fight to tooth and nail to get a letter in the first place. I do have a copy of my full medical records which I was thinking of copying the prescriptions page and highlighting the relevant medications I was on and also highlight the consultations relating to the time I was prescribed. Maybe that would suffice?

I had a hard time too getting both letters from my GP! It was stressful.. i feel you!

 

I took copies of my prescriptions & incidents but the doctor doing my medical wanted it in my own GP’s words so it adds up. A right pain but I understand it has to be official.

[LeesaMarie 206]

14 minutes ago, cazzz84 said:

I had to fight to tooth and nail to get a letter in the first place. I do have a copy of my full medical records which I was thinking of copying the prescriptions page and highlighting the relevant medications I was on and also highlight the consultations relating to the time I was prescribed. Maybe that would suffice?

if you have the actual history and the doctors notes referring to that time and diagnosis take those with you. that should be everything and will show that there isn't anything else.

[cazzz84 44]

11 minutes ago, LeesaMarie said:

if you have the actual history and the doctors notes referring to that time and diagnosis take those with you. that should be everything and will show that there isn't anything else.

Thanks guys! The medical is next Thursday, I’ll let you know how it goes!

[4000mf 33]

I had an issue of poor mental health around fifteen years ago, I still have the mood stabilisers on repeat prescription as I still have some low-level periods of manageable anxiety.

 

Almost didn’t contribute to this thread as it’s hard to write and admit, but it’s commendable to those who’ve already contributed so I may as well throw my hat in.

 

I’m worried it’ll affect my medical at the beginning of September but I’ll update you all and look forward to seeing the updates of others.