London Medical - Knightsbridge Doctors

[swji89 41]

Had my medical yesterday so thought I'd share my experience for anyone whose medical is coming up soon!

I had mine at the Bentinck Mansions location, and it wasn't too hard to find. There were quite a few people there so there was a bit of waiting around as I think there were only 2 doctors along with a chap who was doing the chest x rays. This in addition, of course, to a few reception/office staff. Got there early so was asked to wait in the waiting room until 5 minutes before my appointment when I went back up to the reception hatch and handed over the relevant documents for them to photocopy. As noted in previous posts, they attached a photo to each of the different forms they used to record the various bits of data they were collecting. I was also handed a new questionnaire which was a yes/no tick box just in more detail about specific conditions than the one I filled in ahead of the visit.

The medical bits themselves weren't all that taxing - chest x ray was quick and easy, then (after quite a long wait as I mentioned) I was called in by one of the doctors who sat down with me and went through my vaccinations (she had put the letter for 'not typically available' - 'D' is it? - initially but then ticked the 'varicella history' box when I told her I had had chickenpox) and asked me other questions about my questionnaire as appropriate and also asked a range of questions (similar to what i had already filled out on the questionnaire I was handed at the start - guessing this was so they could make any remarks about my conduct which was a question on the questionnaire for them to fill out, as was a yes/no tick box as to whether they felt I had offered any misleading information!)

Then it was height and weight, a sight test (with my glasses on, covering one eye at a time with my hand) and then the fuller physical examination. First I sat on the bed clothed and she checked my throat, eyes and ears. Then, after getting changed and robing up I was asked to lie on the bed where she did blood pressure, took blood for testing, tested my breathing, checked the lymph nodes on my neck, felt my stomach (presumably for any lumps etc.) and did the old cough test on the nether regions (!). She also did the reflex test on my knees with the hammer which was amusing a) because I didn't even know they still did that and b) there was hardly any space between the wall and the end of the bed.

After that I got changed again and she signed the forms and then led me back to the waiting room. One of the office staff then called me back to the hatch where I paid. She said that no news is good news and that if I've heard nothing from them by Monday then there's nothing abnormal and my medical results will have been sent to the embassy. The receptionist in question then went on to ask me whether I had submitted my readiness form and handed me the copy of the vaccination sheet telling me to a) not take it to the embassy as they will have a copy and I could run the risk of them taking my copy in and keeping it as well and b) take good care of it because I could use it for AoS. I wasn't expecting them to know much about the rest of the process from what I've read on here, so that was a pleasant surprise. There was also a note attached to it saying 'DON'T LOSE' as well as adding that it can be used for AoS, jobs, enrolling in school (if appropriate) etc. when in the US.I obviously got handed back the original copies of my documents too.

Overall, despite a bit of a wait between the X-ray and the examination it was a smooth process and I was in and hour within an hour and a quarter of my appointment time. Now... the wait for the interview letter!

Edited August 13, 2015 by swji89

[Isafella 0]

Apologies if this has already been asked.

I am due to schedule my medical soon, however I have a bit of a phobia of needles. My doctor has prescribed me diazepam to take just before to calm my nerves for the blood test.

If I ask my doctors to write me a letter stating that I have been prescribed this for fear of needles and take it along with me will this be enough? or will it create an issue with my application?

Edited August 18, 2015 by Isafella

[swji89 41]

I guess the question would be how else are they going to give you the vaccinations (if you want them at this stage rather than AoS) or how are they going to take the blood test. Why don't you give Knightsbridge a call to clarify with them?

[CharlieTanger 76]

(Moderator delete this post...wrong thread)

Edited August 19, 2015 by CharlieTanger

[noini89 56]

Hi Guys

is that ok to book the medical interview in London without the letter from the embassy? I got my case number from NVC and everything else sorted such us vaccinations etc.

thanks

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Hi Guys

is that ok to book the medical interview in London without the letter from the embassy? I got my case number from NVC and everything else sorted such us vaccinations etc.

thanks

Some people do that.

[-Shana- 152]

Hi Guys

is that ok to book the medical interview in London without the letter from the embassy? I got my case number from NVC and everything else sorted such us vaccinations etc.

thanks

Some people don't receive their letter, but they managed to book the appointment with the case number. So yes, you can, if you are really desperate to speed up the process as much as possible. I seem to recall them asking me if I had received a letter from the embassy, you can just say "yes" and state your case number.

[Henley1989 10]

Hi Guys

is that ok to book the medical interview in London without the letter from the embassy? I got my case number from NVC and everything else sorted such us vaccinations etc.

thanks

Im thinking the same. I just dont know exactly when to book it for.. Will prob book it two weeks from when I call. Im still waiting for case number from NVC. Once I get it, will call medical and book for 2-3 weeks after that.. hope its enough.. Noini89 - can you PM me and let me know how it goes? If you do book early, how long wait e.t.c

cheers

[CharlieTanger 76]

Im thinking the same. I just dont know exactly when to book it for.. Will prob book it two weeks from when I call. Im still waiting for case number from NVC. Once I get it, will call medical and book for 2-3 weeks after that.. hope its enough.. Noini89 - can you PM me and let me know how it goes? If you do book early, how long wait e.t.c

cheers

Schedule the medical for 3 to 4 weeks after you get your case number. More than likely you can do 3. You just want your case processed at the embassy before you get the medical. Edited August 25, 2015 by CharlieTanger

[Henley1989 10]

Schedule the medical for 3 to 4 weeks after you get your case number. More than likely you can do 3. You just want your case processed at the embassy before you get the medical.

Thanks. I was gonna do 2 weeks but maybe will do 3 to be on the safe side

[CharlieTanger 76]

Thanks. I was gonna do 2 weeks but maybe will do 3 to be on the safe side

Let's put it this way ...go for 3 weeks or do 4 to be on the safe side.

I found out my number on the 12th and it still has not reached the embassy. And that doesn't include the processing days to get in their system. Don't try and rush things now. If you have your medical before your case is processed at the embassy you'll run into a larger issue. And a delay. So my advice is to take things easy since you've waited this long already.

[Henley1989 10]

Let's put it this way ...go for 3 weeks or do 4 to be on the safe side.

I found out my number on the 12th and it still has not reached the embassy. And that doesn't include the processing days to get in their system. Don't try and rush things now. If you have your medical before your case is processed at the embassy you'll run into a larger issue. And a delay. So my advice is to take things easy since you've waited this long already.

Thanks, you are right, im just being impatient.. Better to be safe than sorry

[Edward&Wendy 2]

Well, I had my medical examination yesterday, just before the Tube strikes this week, which have subsequently been called off. Despite currently being in the best shape I’ve ever been in, I’m still unsettled by the prospect of anything like this, and I was a bit of a bundle of nerves prior to and on arrival.

I had mine at Bentinck Mansions, which was easy enough to find. Arrived fifteen minutes prior to my appointment (1:10pm), so I checked in, handed over my documents, and received the more specific questionnaire to fill in. Only ticked yes to weight loss and previous tobacco use, the rest was fine. Handed that back, and went to sit down again. There were two other people waiting besides me, and shortly after a couple of guys came in as well.

I was waiting about ten minutes before a pleasant man took me for my chest x-ray. He had a friendly demeanour, remarking to clip my long hair up ‘like a samurai’, to which I chuckled and said I’ve always been terrible at clipping my hair to the top of my head. He had to take the x-ray twice, the second time with the plate lengthways because it seemed my chest was too broad and was getting cut off the picture, but that wasn’t a problem. Afterwards, went back to the waiting room.

About fifteen minutes or so later, I was met by a friendly female doctor, and we went through the form I’d filled in. She asked me about my weight loss and when I’d stopped smoking (six and a half years ago), both of which seemed to please her, along with saying no to all the other questions. After that, we started with the eye test, which I felt didn’t go so well, but she had no complaints with. Then came the usual routine: eyes, ears, nose, and throat, then heart, blood pressure, lungs, stomach. Having anticipated being asked to strip altogether, she merely asked me to lie down and lower my trousers and underwear to my knees, which was far less hassle, though a bit of a challenge to pull up when she was through. After she was content my nethers were fine, she took my blood while I was still lying down, at which point I redressed while she signed the paperwork. She said she seemed happy with it all, and wished me good luck, at which point I was back in the waiting room. I guess the part I found a little strange was, despite the initial medical questionnaire I had to fill in prior to the examination asking for my height and weight, she didn’t measure either during the physical part, going on the premise that what I penned in myself was sufficient.

The waiting room itself was filling up now; a family of three and another of four had come in, occupying a majority of the seats. Another five or ten minutes later, I was taken by lovely lady to go over my vaccinations. While no one there was unpleasant, she was by far the nicest person I saw that day, chatting casually amongst everything. After confirming a history of chicken pox, the only vaccination I needed was a tetanus shot, since my last one was 2002. Being left-handed, she was initially going to put it in my right arm, but was apprehensive about sticking the needle into the tattoo there, which she asked about, and we agreed it was probably best to aim for my left arm. She asked where I was going, and also wished me the best of luck with everything, which was sweet.

After that, I wasn’t in the waiting room for long before one of the girls from reception called me to pay and hand all my documents back. She said they’d contact me if there was any concern regarding anything, but beyond that it’d all just go on to the embassy and be fine. She wished me all the best as well, and that was it. I was in there for about 40 minutes over all, relieved it had gone quickly and painlessly.

When people say it isn’t nearly as bad as how you build it up in your head, they’re not wrong. Everyone I saw was nice and made me feel at ease. Even still, I couldn’t help but treat myself to a couple of ales while waiting for the train home.

Edited August 25, 2015 by Edward&Wendy

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Thanks, you are right, im just being impatient.. Better to be safe than sorry

If you want to be better safe than sorry, then wait for your status to change to ready, then call to go in the next week.

If you are trying to push things because you have a deadline you can't miss, then ask for an appointment two weeks from knowing your number. There is still the built in delay of 3-4 days waiting on the lab results until the results can go to the embassy. If you medical should arrive early, nothing bad will happen. They won't throw it away.

[noini89 56]

Just a quick update

My case left NVC yesterday and I decided to book my medical interview in 2 weeks time form today. I believe that by this time the case would be ready in embassy.

Edited August 26, 2015 by noini89