Medical next week - help!

[HarryKane]

Hi all,

I have a medical scheduled for next week at either Liverpool Street or Blackfriars.

Is anyone able to talk me through the requirements, what they’ll be looking for etc?

Appreciate the help, thanks!

 

[AG1994]

Driver medical includes:

• Hearing test - sit in a booth with headphones on, press button when you hear the sound
• ECG
• Urine test for drug and alcohol analysis
• Basic eye test, read the letters from afar and colour blindness coloured numbers chart.
• Chat about your medical history and any medicines you take
• Blood pressure
• Potentially ask you to stand on one leg and balance for 10 seconds

Think that’s it. Pretty basic to be fair.

 

[HarryKane]

No bleep test what a relief

 

[Islineclear3_1]

No bleep test what a relief

that's the hearing test, surely?

No drinking, gigs/pub bands the night before

 

[martin2345uk]

I think the bleep test is a running test, thank Christ we don’t have to do that as train drivers or I’d be out the door

 

[Smelliott]

I think the bleep test is a running test, thank Christ we don’t have to do that as train drivers or I’d be out the door

Don't think there'd be any of us left, I've put on about 2½ stone since I started driving a few years back!

 

[RyanC87]

I think you'd have to be in a coma to fail the medical. You'll be fine

 

[BobCratchit]

Does BMI come into it at all? And do different TOCs/FOCs have any enhanced requirements of the standard medical like some do with the aptitude tests? Ta!

 

[Tevion539]

Does BMI come into it at all? And do different TOCs/FOCs have any enhanced requirements of the standard medical like some do with the aptitude tests? Ta!

Put it this way - my BMI says I'm obese. The only thing the doctor was worried about was my BP. But, because I had multiple readings from home which were way lower than what he was getting I passed.

 

[AG1994]

Does BMI come into it at all? And do different TOCs/FOCs have any enhanced requirements of the standard medical like some do with the aptitude tests? Ta!

It’s a standard railway medical. Your BMI would only come into it if it makes you fail something else - the ability to walk properly, balance, fit in a chair, blood pressure or similar. Obviously if your BMI is extremely high then you’ll probably have other issues that will likely you fail you.

Plenty of big people on the railway, so long as it doesn’t become a problem for the employee it’ll probably be fine for the employer.

 

[BobCratchit]

Thanks for the reply guys, sounds like a common sense approach then, similar to the way the CAA conduct their medicals - blood pressure more important than BMI there too.

 

[Tevion539]

Thanks for the reply guys, sounds like a common sense approach then, similar to the way the CAA conduct their medicals - blood pressure more important than BMI there too.

Don't forget, if you're taking any medication that could cause drowsiness, such as opioids etc or you're being investigated for/have a condition such as sleep apnoea it may present some issues. Especially if they aren't sufficiently under control. If it's a safety critical role, and you are on these medications I would speak to your GP and let them know you may potentially be working in one and will need to review the medication you are taking.

Obviously, I don't know your situation. But if it's just BMI you're worried about, you should be fine.

 

[BobCratchit]

Don't forget, if you're taking any medication that could cause drowsiness, such as opioids etc or you're being investigated for/have a condition such as sleep apnoea it may present some issues. Especially if they aren't sufficiently under control. If it's a safety critical role, and you are on these medications I would speak to your GP and let them know you may potentially be working in one and will need to review the medication you are taking.

Obviously, I don't know your situation. But if it's just BMI you're worried about, you should be fine.

Thanks for the advice, my health is generally fine just my BMI is around 32 so probably could do with dropping a stone, wasn’t sure if there was a cut off point like 30 for example. I hold a class 3 CAA medical so it should be ok, if anything it’ll motivate me to move around a bit more if I get through the computer tests next week and then the DMI… fingers crossed I get that far!!!

 

[RyanC87]

Thanks for the advice, my health is generally fine just my BMI is around 32 so probably could do with dropping a stone, wasn’t sure if there was a cut off point like 30 for example. I hold a class 3 CAA medical so it should be ok, if anything it’ll motivate me to move around a bit more if I get through the computer tests next week and then the DMI… fingers crossed I get that far!!!

No mate, no cut off as such.

 

[Jonsutt]

Thanks for the advice, my health is generally fine just my BMI is around 32 so probably could do with dropping a stone, wasn’t sure if there was a cut off point like 30 for example. I hold a class 3 CAA medical so it should be ok, if anything it’ll motivate me to move around a bit more if I get through the computer tests next week and then the DMI… fingers crossed I get that far!!!

You'll be fine. My bmi is over 40 and I passed my medical last month

 

[BobCratchit]

Brilliant, cheers guys, you’ve made me a lot more confident now anyhow!!!!

 

[Diedinium]

An additional question while this thread is here - what about eyesight for people like me wearing glasses?

I have a fairly strong prescription (+6.25 dioptres in one eye and +4.75 in the other), and reading the Train Driver Licence Regulations (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/724/schedule/1) it explicitly states in there in Schedule 1 (medical requirements) that +5 is the limit for additive correction, but then other threads in here have said that they don't even check the actual strength of a prescription, just doing the basic eyesight tests? What is the reality?

If the law is followed properly, surely this means I'll fail the medical, since my prescription is beyond the correction limit?

Has anyone else here with a pretty high prescription done a medical and can share what tests they do? Or knows what the standards are?

 

[Tevion539]

An additional question while this thread is here - what about eyesight for people like me wearing glasses?

I have a fairly strong prescription (+6.25 dioptres in one eye and +4.75 in the other), and reading the Train Driver Licence Regulations (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/724/schedule/1) it explicitly states in there in Schedule 1 (medical requirements) that +5 is the limit for additive correction, but then other threads in here have said that they don't even check the actual strength of a prescription, just doing the basic eyesight tests? What is the reality?

If the law is followed properly, surely this means I'll fail the medical, since my prescription is beyond the correction limit?

Has anyone else here with a pretty high prescription done a medical and can share what tests they do? Or knows what the standards are?

I know this could cause someone who holds a hgv/pcv licence to have it revoked. So take that as you will.i suppose at that point, it depends how honest you are...

The only way they can somewhat check that is by asking you to read the chart without your glasses or by you telling them. Although, my eyesight is fairly good, so I'm not the best person to answer the latter part of your post. All I can say is good luck.

 

[Aviator88]

An additional question while this thread is here - what about eyesight for people like me wearing glasses?

I have a fairly strong prescription (+6.25 dioptres in one eye and +4.75 in the other), and reading the Train Driver Licence Regulations (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/724/schedule/1) it explicitly states in there in Schedule 1 (medical requirements) that +5 is the limit for additive correction, but then other threads in here have said that they don't even check the actual strength of a prescription, just doing the basic eyesight tests? What is the reality?

If the law is followed properly, surely this means I'll fail the medical, since my prescription is beyond the correction limit?

Has anyone else here with a pretty high prescription done a medical and can share what tests they do? Or knows what the standards are?

It also says that exceptions may be made on the opinion of an eye specialist, ultimately made by the occupational doctor. Incidentally, the limitations to obtain a class 1 (professional) aviation medical certificate are similar - a friend of mine is as blind as a bat (I'm sure he's circa - 9.0 dioptres) and is a 737 captain for Jet2, so y'know, if the train driving thing doesn't work out for you!

 

[Diedinium]

It also says that exceptions may be made on the opinion of an eye specialist, ultimately made by the occupational doctor. Incidentally, the limitations to obtain a class 1 (professional) aviation medical certificate are similar - a friend of mine is as blind as a bat (I'm sure he's circa - 9.0 dioptres) and is a 737 captain for Jet2, so y'know, if the train driving thing doesn't work out for you!

Yeah I guess you're right, my only hope is how liberally that "exceptions may be made" clause is interpreted - may just have to hope that the doctor assessing me decides my eyesight isn't an issue regardless.

 

[Tevion539]

Yeah I guess you're right, my only hope is how liberally that "exceptions may be made" clause is interpreted - may just have to hope that the doctor assessing me decides my eyesight isn't an issue regardless.

That's always the hope... Good luck!

 

[haidox]

Thanks for the advice, my health is generally fine just my BMI is around 32 so probably could do with dropping a stone, wasn’t sure if there was a cut off point like 30 for example. I hold a class 3 CAA medical so it should be ok, if anything it’ll motivate me to move around a bit more if I get through the computer tests next week and then the DMI… fingers crossed I get that far!!!

I have a medical next week with Manchester Metrolink. I think it's a similar medical to the trains with eyesight, hearing, BP, and BMI be checked. My BMI is 37 so I'm hoping it won't be an issue

 

[RyanC87]

I have a medical next week with Manchester Metrolink. I think it's a similar medical to the trains with eyesight, hearing, BP, and BMI be checked. My BMI is 37 so I'm hoping it won't be an issue

You will be fine. I was over that

 

[12LDA28C]

Not always as straightforward as you might think. At my last medical, the ECG threw up some unusual results, so much so that they had to do it three times. At the end of the assessment I was informed that there was evidence of myocardial infarction which is medical speak for a heart attack, which was news to me! I like to think I'd know if I'd suffered a heart attack at some point.

 

[Aviator88]

Not always as straightforward as you might think. At my last medical, the ECG threw up some unusual results, so much so that they had to do it three times. At the end of the assessment I was informed that there was evidence of myocardial infarction which is medical speak for a heart attack, which was news to me! I like to think I'd know if I'd suffered a heart attack at some point.

Just out of curiosity, was it correct or was it human error?

Either way, it shows the benefit of working in an industry with compulsory medicals - I once worked with a guy who was moaning something terrible because he'd failed his medical due to high BP and I said to him, "This is GOOD news. How long wouldn't you have known about it had you not had that check-up?"

He's back driving now, on tablets, and with a better life prognosis.

 

[12LDA28C]

Just out of curiosity, was it correct or was it human error?

Either way, it shows the benefit of working in an industry with compulsory medicals - I once worked with a guy who was moaning something terrible because he'd failed his medical due to high BP and I said to him, "This is GOOD news. How long wouldn't you have known about it had you not had that check-up?"

He's back driving now, on tablets, and with a better life prognosis.

I'm still none the wiser - I was sent home whilst they sought a second opinion from another doctor and I received a phone call within the hour to tell me it was no cause for concern and I had passed the medical!

 

[Aviator88]

I'm still none the wiser - I was sent home whilst they sought a second opinion from another doctor and I received a phone call within the hour to tell me it was no cause for concern and I had passed the medical!

I bet that was a long hour! Most likely a misread then and a doctor playing it safe.

Glad it was good news!

 

[NSEWonderer]

I've had a little um ah with my Medical today due to start soon as a Customer Experience Assistant and whilst I flew thru the medical, I then got to the reading letters from slight a far aka Visual and realized my glasses are no longer effective at the required distance. I've booked immediately the eyetest for Wednesday(Tomorrow) with specsavers to get new glasses hopefully before my start date in less than 3 weeks. Hoping I've not messed up majorly, defo was my fault as I never checked again as it was fine for the desk job work I was previously doing with programming and ai but stupidly slipped my mind to checkup before the medical. I'm lead to believe by my examiner that I should be fine if I get the glasses and send proof of receipt, the test and some form or result with the new glasses to the medical center itself but Im not too sure specsavers do another retest with the new glasses on. Anyone had a similar incident and it worked out?(doubt anyone would make this mistake like me tho hahaha)