London Medical Experience

[Lovemad 7]

Hi everyone, I had my medical exam at Knightsbridge doctors yesterday and following is my account of what happened. I hope this account is of some value to other visajourney members, particularly those who will shortly be attending a medical in London.

Travel to London

I had to travel from Glasgow, UK to London for my medical for which I chose to fly with easyjet from Glasgow International Airport to London Stansted. Although my medical was not until 1.50pm, I took an early flight and arrived at Stansted at 8.30am and had breakfast there prior to heading into central London. I used easybus to get from the airport to London, and one of the reasons I picked this option was because it was relatively cheap and took me right into the heart of London, and dropped me off right outside Baker Street tube station. This was particularly convenient as Bond Street tube station (nearest to the Bentick Mansions location of Knightsbridge doctors IMO) is only one stop away from Baker Street tube on the Jubilee line.

The Medical

Upon arriving at Bond Street around 10.30am, I went to check the location of Bentick Mansions, where my medical would take place. It's about a 5-7 minute walk from Bond Street tube station, where you cross over and walk up Marylebone Lane and then make a right on to Bentinck Street. Afterwards I looked around the shops on Bond Street (of which there are no shortage) before heading for my medical at 1.30pm and arrived at Bentinck Mansions around 1.35pm.

Upon arriving at reception I was asked to present the required documents (passport, passport sized photo, US medical questionnaire, vaccination records and police certificate). I was then given another questionnaire to complete in the waiting room. This questionnaire was basically asking for further information about your medical history. After handing this back in at reception, I was told that I would be called shortly. In about 10 minutes I was called by a Norwegian nurse, who went through my vaccination history. She said everything was up to date, apart from Tetanus. I opted to take the vaccine at the clinic rather than going back to my GP, just to make sure they was not a delay in getting my paperwork to the embassy. The nurse also provided me with an up to date copy of my vaccination records for me to keep. After getting my Tetanus vaccine, I was then taken next door for my chest x-ray. This was relatively quick and I was given a gown to wear.

After my x-ray, I was escorted to another waiting room and told to wait for the doctor to call me. This wait was the longest part of the process and I highly recommend bringing a good book to read. By this point, I was not keeping a note of the time as I just wanted to get this part of the process over and done with. After what I estimate to be about 30-40 minutes, I was called by the Doctor of my examination. This began by going through my medical history and asking what medication I was on for any ongoing medical conditions. The doctor then asked me to sign a couple of documents including the questionnaire I completed in the waiting room.

I was then asked to remove my shoes and my height and weight measurements were taken. I was then given an eye test (for those who wear glasses be sure to have them with you), following which I was asked to sit on the bed. The doctor then checked my eyes, ears and throat. I was then asked to lie down, and my blood pressure reading was taken. She then listened to my chest and heart, examined my stomach, checked my back and shoulders and tested my reflexes. She then asked me to lie back down to take my blood sample. I was then left to lay down for a few minutes before the doctor then came back to let me know that I could get dressed. After getting dressed she told me that everything was ok and that if any abnormalities were picked up in either my blood sample or chest x-ray that they would get in contact with me. She told me to go to the initial waiting room, and wait for one of the reception staff to process my payment. After a few minutes, a lady came and took me to reception where all of my documents (passport, etc) were handed back to me. She then told me the total £257 (£227 for the medical plus £30 for my tetanus shot) which I paid for using a Mastercard (they take all credit cards apart from American Express) and this lady then gave me my receipt and reiterated the message the doctor had given me after my examination and said that if I don't hear from them, then everything is fine and my documents will be sent to the embassy and she then wished me good luck.

Post-medical and travel from London

By the time, I was finished with my medical it was 4pm and after a short look around at Selfridges I left, as I had to catch my easybus at 5.30pm so I made my way back to Bond Street tube station and then got of one stop later at Baker Street. As I hadn't eaten since breakfast, I had an early dinner at AskItalian, which is just opposite Baker Street tube. Afterwards, I went to the pickup point for easybus which is about 2 blocks away from the tube station and outside a pub called the Allsop Arms. After catching my bus to the airport everything was fairly self-explanatory and I felt a huge sense of relief that this part of the process was over. It's just my interview that I now need to wait for. But I feel that all of this had been worth it as at the end I will get to be with my husband.

If there are any questions about the medical, then please ask and I'll do my best to answer them for you.

Edited February 22, 2013 by Lovemad

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Awesome read. I was waiting for "whilst" to be used in it.

[X Factor 1,112]

Awesome read. I was waiting for "whilst" to be used in it.

[Lovemad 7]

Awesome read. I was waiting for "whilst" to be used in it.

Lol, sorry I forgot to stick in a whilst in there but I'll keep that in mind when writing up my interview experience. I was told that I would have heard from Knightsbridge doctors, in the event there were any irregularities by Monday (yesterday). They said that if I do not hear anything, then that means everything was fine. Well it's now Tuesday and I've still not heard anything, so I guess in this instance no news is good news. So I am so relieved and now getting everything ready for my interview next week.