London Medical - Knightsbridge Doctors

[Sarah66 3]

Re hospitalisation question; I had a DVT in 2011 (Warfarin for a year but all OK now) and I have my gallbladder removed in 2016. Do I need to get reports from my GP for these to take to the medical?

[Sarah66 3]

Re hospitalisation question; I had a DVT in 2011 (Warfarin for a year but all OK now) and I have my gallbladder removed in 2016. Do I need to get reports from my GP for these to take to the medical?

Re hospitalisation question; I had a DVT in 2011 (Warfarin for a year but all OK now) and I have my gallbladder removed in 2016. Do I need to get reports from my GP for these to take to the medical?

[Sarah66 3]

Re hospitalisation question; I had a DVT in 2011 (Warfarin for a year but all OK now) and I have my gallbladder removed in 2016. Do I need to get reports from my GP for these to take to the medical?

[Ketsuban 1,034]

On 12/10/2017 at 4:20 AM, Sarah66 said:

Re hospitalisation question; I had a DVT in 2011 (Warfarin for a year but all OK now) and I have my gallbladder removed in 2016. Do I need to get reports from my GP for these to take to the medical?

I had DVT in 2010, Warfarin for 6 months. I took copies of the letters the hospital sent to my GP and it wasn't an issue in terms of the visa. I also got my doctor to write a letter stating it happened just the once and I don't have any ongoing issues. Looking back, I think that was overkill but I didn't want any delays.

[LaurenAndBrent 61]

Just flew to london from Belfast this morning for my medical! Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly. 🎉 I really wish they had a few other panel physicians to choose from! Flying to and from London in a day just for this one thing is a major pain in the butttttt. 🙄 Ah well, needs must! 

[ammez 5]

So I had my medical today, I booked it yesterday and it was the only one available this year as they close on the 18th. I frantically got everything together yesterday that I needed to bring, thankfully they emailed me the list of things I needed.

 

All was in order, first things first I had to hand over all my paperwork and was given a clip board with questions to fill out, I filled out "no" to all as none applied. Handed that over to reception and then I had to fill HALF the cup for my urine sample which I did. Back in the waiting room I waited about ten minute then was called to have my x-ray. I was asked to undress my top half completely and don a gown and tie my hair up, remove all jewellery etc.  Had a South African lady who was very nice indeed. That was over in five minutes and I was back in the waiting room.

 

Next I got called in with a nurse to review my vaccinations. Since the NHS only has a record of me having my TB jab but I have defiantly had more and she agreed that was probably the case. She talked through my options, one was to not get the vaccinations required of me today and go back to my gp and try and find my full immunisation history, another was to get the jabs done on the NHS and the other was to get everything I needed there and then, the price was £102 for tetanus, MMR and the flu jab. I opted for the latter so as to have everything sorted sooner. They were practically painless. I was able to opt for the "vegan" versions of two of the jabs but the flu jab contained egg and there was no no-egg option for that one.  Went back to the waiting room. She was a lovely Norwegian nurse.

 

Next was seeing the doctor. Now by this point I was feeling very good, had had a positive experience up until then. The doctor had seen on my patient summary from my GP that I had PTSD back in 2005...well this was news to me. In all the rush of getting everything together late yesterday I hadn't looked at what actually was on my patient summary. In 2005 there was a log of me being diagnosed with PTSD! The only thing I could think of was when I went to the doctor when I was having a bit of a hard time after an assault I'd experienced. I vaguely remember being prescribed something that I never took and also was "prescribed" books to read which I did. I never had any discussion about what I was experiencing was PTSD and din't have any follow up appointments or anything about it and I never underwent any therapy nor was I referred to anyone further as I felt like I had dealt with the issue well enough myself.  Before and after that I've never had any mental health issues but the doctor seemed extremely concerned about it. To the point where she was questioning quite deeply and felt like she wasn't happy with my responses. Since I had been blindsided and had "guessed" that that must have been what it was, as I literally cannot think of anything else it could have been. She said that because I have a "history" of a mental health issues I need will need a letter from my GP saying I am not a danger of harm to society or myself!! For one doctor's visit in 2005 where she could clearly see there was never any follow up prescriptions, healthcare or anything to do with mental health. This was where I started to get a little bit annoyed as the way she was talking about people with PTSD made it sound as if they are all maniacs waiting to explode. She actually said "these are the kinds of people that go on rampages". I couldn't believe the bedside manner I was experiencing and I don't know whether she was having a hard day or what but it was bad. Thinking back now I think maybe it was a good thing that she was being openly disparaging of PTSD to my face as possibly she felt like I clearly wasn't suffering now? I don't know. However she just didn't seem to like the answers I was giving her about it which made me even more panicky as I was reading her body language. Then she asked the drug questions and asked had I ever TRIED marijuana and I stupidly hesitated by saying "ummm" which she also didn't like. I said that I had tried it as I felt honesty was the best policy but my god....hounded is not the word. "when did you try it? What date? What year did you try it? How did you smoke it? Did you smoke it at a party? With friends? Was it a joint? Then because I was not being given a chance to actually answer she kind of corrected herself and actually said "I shouldn't be putting words in your mouth here" and then allowed me to answer, she wrote a load of stuff down. I just said I'd tried it when I was about 18-19. I'm 32 now. Quite frankly I wish I hadn't said anything at all but I didn't want to lie and it was like she was staring into my soul when she was questioning me that if I did lie then I feel she would have known. I was especially spooked since in the initial paperwork at reception I went too far and started filling out the doctor's page and only realised when I reached a question that said "do you think the patient has been dishonest in answering questions". The doctor then said I will have to sit for an "observed urine test" because of my answers(Which costs £50). I wanted to cry. She said if I didn't take it then she wouldn't submit the medical, basically. I asked if many people had to do the observed urine test and she said, AND I QUOTE "No, most people just lie." I honestly felt quite queazy at that point and like a complete fool for being honest. She then pulled out a sheet with questions for drug abusers . I'd calmed myself down a bit by then and because I was answering no (and confidently) to every question she became a bit softer. Next was stripping down to my undies, did an eye test and that was fine. Then she checked my ears - which I had problems with when I was a child - and started explaining loudly and I actually mean loudly, "oh! oh wow" Oh my god!" Thinking she had found a tumour or something, but no she was just shocked that I was walking around with two perforated ear drums and told me I had very abnormal ears and that she would recommend referring me to ENT doctor and that it shouldn't affect my visa (!) but it might. Then she listened to my heart. Told me I had a heart murmur. Great. But wait no actually I don't have a heart murmur it just murmured for a second!! Got dressed, tried not to feel too traumatised and she explained again I need to get my gp to email the letter through explaining I'm not an ongoing "risk" of any kind (words she used). 

 

Went back into the waiting room and waited about half an hour for a clinician to come and get me for my observed urine test. You basically have to pee into a cup with the door open. She didn't actually watch me pee but she said not to flush the toilet after I'd finished peeing the rest and repeated that several times, so I wonder if they collect the toilet water pee too??

 

Anyway...all in all I have left feeling a little traumatised and as if I have jeopardised my visa chances :(:(:(  Anyone else gone through something similar??

 

The final bill for me was £450. Gulp. And all in all it took about 2.5 hours.

Edited December 12, 2017 by ammez

[ammez 5]

Now I am absolutely FREAKING OUT for admitting to smoking marijuana many years ago reading about the year ban. So much for honesty, wish I had more time to review the dos and don'ts for the medical interview. I feel sick.

[Tim & Tiff 8]

Quick question - how quickly do you get the results of your medical, assuming there is no follow up paperwork required?

[ammez 5]

55 minutes ago, Tim & Tiff said:

Quick question - how quickly do you get the results of your medical, assuming there is no follow up paperwork required?

I was told my medical was getting sent straight to the embassy. I had follow up paperwork though so I have no idea if it's there yet because of the Christmas break.

[ammez 5]

So just updating my so far not-good experience with Knightsbridge doctors: I called this morning as they told me they were closed until the 3rd Jan, just to check everything was okay with my results.

Either a doctor or nurse came on the line and said I had TWO outstanding letters required from my GP, as far as I was told I only needed one - I had something for PTSD from years back and the other piece of paper the Knightsbridge doctor gave me was regarding my ears and what she said was an optional but recommended referral to an ENT specialist. At the time the doctor said this wouldn't affect the visa and was OPTIONAL OPTIONAL OPTIONAL - she did NOT tell me that I needed a letter about this from my doctor!  Now this person on the phone this morning has told me that I need to have this referral!! I had already spoken to my doctor about it after my medical and we decided since my ears haven't given me any problems in the last decade that it would be unnecessary. I was also told that Knightsbridge haven't received the other letter emailed over on the 18th December and that I should have been cc'd into it, which I hadn't been told by the doctor either!! It is so frustrating to know that my visa interview next Monday won't result in a clear pass now as a result of not being given the correct information. 

 

So a word to the wise - if you are asked for an email letter from your gp, have them CC you into it and if you are given another sheet of paper that the doctor tells you is an optional follow up, MAKE SURE you get your doctor to include what you've done in regards to following up on it. Otherwise expect a delay like me. 

 

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

9 hours ago, Tim & Tiff said:

Quick question - how quickly do you get the results of your medical, assuming there is no follow up paperwork required?

They say allow 3-4 days because the have to get the results from the blood work back from the lab. 

[Tim & Tiff 8]

So bearing that in mind, you could feasibly have failed the medical and be going to your embassy interview unaware, or does the clinic advise you of a failure as soon as they know?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

5 hours ago, Tim & Tiff said:

So bearing that in mind, you could feasibly have failed the medical and be going to your embassy interview unaware, or does the clinic advise you of a failure as soon as they know?

 

If you have reason to think you will fail, then book your interview with a gap of a few weeks after the medical. It's not difficult to avoid having an interview days after the medical.

 

It depends on what you mean by failing. They evaluate your health, but don't stamp pass/fail on the report. They might identify Class A or Class B conditions to the embassy.   If your blood test comes back showing syphilis infection, they call you so you know you need treatment.   Most things that would delay are covered on the spot. Example, you have raging high blood pressure. They ask you to get info from your GP or further monitoring and send to them. Example, your chest x-Ray looks suspicious for TB, they tell you what happens next. 

Edited January 4, 2018 by Wuozopo

[Tim & Tiff 8]

1 minute ago, Wuozopo said:

 

If you have reason to think you will fail, then book your interview with a gap of a few weeks after the medical. It's not difficult to avoid having an interview days after the medical.

 

It depends on what you mean by failing. They evaluate your health, but don't stamp pass/fail on the report. They might identify Class A or Class B conditions to the embassy.   If your blood test comes back showing syphilis infection, they call you so you know you need treatment.   Most things that would delay are cover on the spot. Example, you have raging high blood pressure. They ask you to get info from your GP or further monitoring and send to them. Example, your chest x-Ray looks suspicious for TB, they tell you what happens next. 

Brilliant - thank you!

[VisaDJ 16]

On 04/01/2018 at 8:08 AM, Tim & Tiff said:

So bearing that in mind, you could feasibly have failed the medical and be going to your embassy interview unaware, or does the clinic advise you of a failure as soon as they know?

I purposely booked my interview at the end of the next week, following the medical, just in case there were any hold-ups or problems. For the sake of a few extra days, I thought it was better to be safe than sorry!