Depression causes Delays!

[stevehaze 4]

Hi Folks,

So I posted a post about how my time to interview was lengthened due to historical medical issues.

The bit that I didn't say was that about a year ago I went to the Doctors suffering from Depression.

I don't mind sharing this as I believe that it's a natural thing to feel down occasionally...and at the time I sought help.

I was prescribed anti-depressants and put in contact with an NHS counselling service.

I hadn't thought about suicide or self-harm, so after speaking briefly with "Time2Talk", they found me to not need any follow-up counselling.

I had already started feeling better as my depression was situational, so I started to wean myself off the drugs and all was ok.

BUT!!

At my recent Visa Medical, I ticked YES in the box after the question about "Have you ever suffered from Depression?"

This meant that the Visa Medical examiner wanted a letter from my doctor saying that I no longer suffered depression and that I was not a harm to myself or others.

Due to the excruciatingly slow speed the NHS works at, this letter took TWO WEEKS!

SO...

IF you have suffered from depression at any point in the past or are currently suffering from depression, make sure that before you attend your medical, you go and see your Doctor and ask for a full write up including the dates of you initial diagnosis, any subequent follow ups and especially the information about whether or not you are liable to harm yourself or others.

If you no longer suffer from depression, you still need this letter, and obtaining it from a GP can be a pain. Save yourself the delay and get it sorted before you go to your medical.

I hope this helps and I'm not sure if this should stay in this regional section or go to the main K1 forum.

Best wishes

Steve

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Steve, this same info is in the pinned London K1 guide at the top of this forum. Sorry you missed it before your medical, but at least you are back on track now. From the guide--

Look at the medical questionnaire. The Knightsbridge doctor may want a report from your NHS doctor if you answer yes about any of the conditions on the form. Exception: smoking, pregnancy. They are basically seeking more information about the diseases/conditions of a more serious nature like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, depression, asthma, etc, and not a broken arm or ingrown toenail. They will tell you to send them a medical report before they can complete the exam results. Save yourself some delays and take a report to your exam if you have or had any medical conditions or take medications. They want to know full diagnosis, date, cured or ongoing, if it requires medication, etc. Its a letter/report from the doctor, not photocopies of you records. If you are claiming to have suffered from depression, there are some magic words your doctor needs to writeYou are not a threat to yourself or others.

Not sure if every panel physician in every country expects the same, but for sure Knightsbridge is going to ask for it. So definitely worth mentioning here in the UK forum again. Thanks.

Edited May 28, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[BryterMoon 30]

I was lucky enough to read about this issue a few days before the medical. Panicked and thought it would cause issues.

Luckily I have a wonderful GP who I visited in person to explain the situation, and he gave me a letter that afternoon. It wasn't a detailed letter, just said what it needed to say.

Hopefully people can get their letter as fast as I did, just have to have a friendly GP it seems!