Medical Assessment

[blueandwhite95]

Okay so I have been offered a position subject to a medical assessment. A few years ago I visited my doctor regarding my alcohol intake as I was concerned about how much I was drinking. I no longer drink alcohol so it will not will be a problem with my work or testing etc, im just worried that a record of previous abuse could hinder my progress. Does anybody have any info/advice on this because it really is no longer an issue just a bump in the road.

Thanks in advance

 

[TDK]

Okay so I have been offered a position subject to a medical assessment. A few years ago I visited my doctor regarding my alcohol intake as I was concerned about how much I was drinking. I no longer drink alcohol so it will not will be a problem with my work or testing etc, im just worried that a record of previous abuse could hinder my progress. Does anybody have any info/advice on this because it really is no longer an issue just a bump in the road.

Thanks in advance

If you are alcohol, free and were not convicted of any alcohol related crimes you should be fine. They will test you for alcohol at the medical. How long ago was this by the way?

 

[Mattm123]

Where is it for? And guard or driver?

 

[TDK]

Where is it for? And guard or driver?

I don't think that makes a difference

 

[Mattm123]

I don't think that makes a difference

No it doesn't make a difference. I'm just curious!

 

[SND150]

I was taking a very low dosage of anti-depressants but stopped taking them about a year and a half ago in consultation with my doctor. Would that be a bar to employment as a trainee train driver?

 

[david_VI]

I was taking a very low dosage of anti-depressants but stopped taking them about a year and a half ago in consultation with my doctor. Would that be a bar to employment as a trainee train driver?

I hope not.

Anyway I feel most of the population has been on such drugs.. Doctors hand them out like no tomorrow! Surely everyones allowed a bit of a blip in their life!

 

[stevienash]

A question on the same subject.

I have recently gone for a trainee conductor role, I passed the interview, passed the assement stage and got invited to a medical. Now I wear a hearing aid in my right ear, the conductor manager brought this up in my interview and seemed happy with what I told him hence I got throu. Now in the medical i met the hearing standard without my hearing aid in! since the medical they have sent me to hearcare (part of specsavers) for more hearing tests! Part of the test was to test my hearing in the ear with my hearing aid in which I passed no problems. Still no word from the TOC weather the position is mine?
Could they still turn me down for the role even though passed medical and extra tests?

 

[SND150]

I hope not.

Anyway I feel most of the population has been on such drugs.. Doctors hand them out like no tomorrow! Surely everyones allowed a bit of a blip in their life!

I was thinking along similar lines David. If I was lucky enough to get through all the assessments and interview(s) would hate to think I would fall at the last hurdle!

 

[david_VI]

I was thinking along similar lines David. If I was lucky enough to get through all the assessments and interview(s) would hate to think I would fall at the last hurdle!

It's my fear too. Although not with regards to medication but height and BMI.. I know theres probably no problem but I always worry about the things out of my control causing me to fail at the last hurdle :P

 

[tinstaafl]

I was taking a very low dosage of anti-depressants but stopped taking them about a year and a half ago in consultation with my doctor. Would that be a bar to employment as a trainee train driver?

Despite registering some time ago, I've only been reading this forum for a short time but there seems to be a massive amount of scaremongering around about medicals, etc.

Of course it's not a bar to employment Putting aside the fact that legally they would be on extremely thin ice withdrawing an offer of employment based on a previous instance of depression (I'm good friends with an HR manager!), the sole purpose of the medical is not to judge you, it is to see if you are fit for a safety critical role.

A railway medical doctor will almost certainly ask you about something like this, but it's only to make sure you're not still suffering, or have a high likelihood of a recurrence.

Just go to the medical and don't worry - otherwise you're blood pressure will be through the roof and you'll fail due to that

 

[SND150]

Despite registering some time ago, I've only been reading this forum for a short time but there seems to be a massive amount of scaremongering around about medicals, etc.

Of course it's not a bar to employment Putting aside the fact that legally they would be on extremely thin ice withdrawing an offer of employment based on a previous instance of depression (I'm good friends with an HR manager!), the sole purpose of the medical is not to judge you, it is to see if you are fit for a safety critical role.

A railway medical doctor will almost certainly ask you about something like this, but it's only to make sure you're not still suffering, or have a high likelihood of a recurrence.

Just go to the medical and don't worry - otherwise you're blood pressure will be through the roof and you'll fail due to that

Thanks for your response tinstaafl has put my mind at rest and is good advice

David - I too have been working on my BMI lost quite a bit of weight over the last year

 

[TDK]

I was taking a very low dosage of anti-depressants but stopped taking them about a year and a half ago in consultation with my doctor. Would that be a bar to employment as a trainee train driver?

Depends on what they were for - if it was an event in your life that you have now overcome then fine, if you have a history of depression then maybe it will effect your chances

 

[Informe]

I am a little concerned as my BMI is 33/34 with my medical in two weeks. Now I've lifted weights all my life and carry a fair bit of muscle but I'm not fat free, just a little bit of belly.

I wasn't really concerned as I'm fit and healthy but now I'm starting to worry a bit. I might try and lose half a stone over the next two weeks (on holiday ). What do you think?

 

[carriageline]

I am a little concerned as my BMI is 33/34 with my medical in two weeks. Now I've lifted weights all my life and carry a fair bit of muscle but I'm not fat free, just a little bit of belly.

I wasn't really concerned as I'm fit and healthy but now I'm starting to worry a bit. I might try and lose half a stone over the next two weeks (on holiday ). What do you think?

I recently had a medical for a signaller/crossing keeper role, whilst it's not the same, and they said it should be around 25 (lol!) it's not bad enough for them to fail my medical.

Just go there and see what happens, not a great deal you can do now.

 

[Degsi00]

I am a little concerned as my BMI is 33/34 with my medical in two weeks. Now I've lifted weights all my life and carry a fair bit of muscle but I'm not fat free, just a little bit of belly.

I wasn't really concerned as I'm fit and healthy but now I'm starting to worry a bit. I might try and lose half a stone over the next two weeks (on holiday ). What do you think?

I too had a medical recently; I had a BMI of 34 and it took several months to get below a BMI of 28. Was told they prefer a BMI of between 20-25 but my 28 was okay.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Informe]

I recently had a medical for a signaller/crossing keeper role, whilst it's not the same, and they said it should be around 25 (lol!) it's not bad enough for them to fail my medical.

Just go there and see what happens, not a great deal you can do now.

Yes not much else I can do really.

I'm talking to the Human Resourses lady tomorrow who carries out the tests. Hopefully with a bit of prewarning they'll be sensible about it, I mean I can do 100 pressups for them if they like. I might be able to get sub 30 BMI in time buts that's about it. cheers

 

[SND150]

Depends on what they were for - if it was an event in your life that you have now overcome then fine, if you have a history of depression then maybe it will effect your chances

Thankfully it was an event that I have now overcome and I do not have a history of depression. Hopefully therefore should not be a problem should I get that far,
thanks for your response.

 

[david_VI]

Thankfully it was an event that I have now overcome and I do not have a history of depression. Hopefully therefore should not be a problem should I get that far,
thanks for your response.

I don't know what you call a history of depression but in my mid/late teens I was on/off for a long time till I figured out what to do with my life.. i've been fine for quite a while since working though so hopefully no problem.

 

[plastictaffy]

I have a high BMI and passed the medical with no trouble at all. You won't have to do anything physical at all. They take your blood pressure, listen to your ticker, make you read the board like you would at the opticians. The you pee in a bottle, do a breath test, and declare any drugs in the last couple of weeks you've taken that may affect the results. The you sign on the dotted line. Not a thing to worry about at all. Some of the drivers on my company are MASSIVE, and, as for conductors, I think I'm kinda average size. Nothing to worry about with the medical, stop flapping. As for the depression thing - as long as you're not depressed now, why do they need to know?? They're not allowed to look at your medical records unless you have a serious incident, so why bother telling them?? Just sayin'!!

 

[SND150]

I don't know what you call a history of depression but in my mid/late teens I was on/off for a long time till I figured out what to do with my life.. i've been fine for quite a while since working though so hopefully no problem.

I don't think there is a clear cut answer to what one would call a history of depression. In my mind I was thinking several episodes of depression over a long period time that perhaps indicates a propensity to suffer mental health issues. What you have described sounds as though it was quite a while ago and no longer and issue and not indicative of a history of depression. But what do I know is just my opinion, it's the TOC's opinion that counts. Hopefully it won't be a problem for either of us!

 

[Informe]

I have a high BMI and passed the medical with no trouble at all. You won't have to do anything physical at all. They take your blood pressure, listen to your ticker, make you read the board like you would at the opticians. The you pee in a bottle, do a breath test, and declare any drugs in the last couple of weeks you've taken that may affect the results. The you sign on the dotted line. Not a thing to worry about at all. Some of the drivers on my company are MASSIVE, and, as for conductors, I think I'm kinda average size. Nothing to worry about with the medical, stop flapping. As for the depression thing - as long as you're not depressed now, why do they need to know?? They're not allowed to look at your medical records unless you have a serious incident, so why bother telling them?? Just sayin'!!

Thanks plastic, yup i was getting myself in a bit of a flap. BMI high or not, I'd imagine I am one of the fitter people in the company so as long as they are allowed to apply commonsense to the results, it should be fine. The recruitment process has been quite wearing (not the tests, the waiting!!) so I'm just kind of edgy. Ta muchly.

 

[Quickthorn]

Informe,

It's well known that the normal ranges for BMI can't be applied to people with a higher proportion of muscle. Athletes or people who weight train often fall into the overweight or obese range, when they are in fact perfectly healthy. The company that run the medical should know all this and apply common sense.

 

[alex595]

What do they check at the medical? Pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, blood glucose levels? Do the get you to do certain amount of steps in a certain amount of time etc?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I have just read above. So feel free to ignore my question

 

[carriageline]

At mine, again signaller, just hearing/eye sight, urine test/breathalyser test, blood pressure, and height and weight.

 

[stevienash]

I am absolulty gutted.

Just had a call from ATW saying they are not taking me on due to my hearing. I wear a hearing aid in my right ear. At my main medical the lady told me that I met the hearing standard required (without my hearing aid in), Great i thought! A couple of days later they ask me to go to specasvers as they have somthing in place with them so i went down there and they tested me with my hearing aid in which i heard all the noises not a problem! Then 2 days later specasvers call me saying they should of done a full hearing test so i go back down there but the night before i put some drops in my right ear to clear any wax that maybe in there? I dont know if this affected my results as now ATW are not taking me on!
This is after I passed interview, assesments gutted aint the word!

 

[NI 271]

I am absolulty gutted.

Just had a call from ATW saying they are not taking me on due to my hearing. I wear a hearing aid in my right ear. At my main medical the lady told me that I met the hearing standard required (without my hearing aid in), Great i thought! A couple of days later they ask me to go to specasvers as they have somthing in place with them so i went down there and they tested me with my hearing aid in which i heard all the noises not a problem! Then 2 days later specasvers call me saying they should of done a full hearing test so i go back down there but the night before i put some drops in my right ear to clear any wax that maybe in there? I dont know if this affected my results as now ATW are not taking me on!
This is after I passed interview, assesments gutted aint the word!

Good grief, that's harsh. Very harsh.

Here's hoping you get the chance with someone else.

 

[Quickthorn]

I am absolulty gutted.

Just had a call from ATW saying they are not taking me on due to my hearing. I wear a hearing aid in my right ear. At my main medical the lady told me that I met the hearing standard required (without my hearing aid in), Great i thought! A couple of days later they ask me to go to specasvers as they have somthing in place with them so i went down there and they tested me with my hearing aid in which i heard all the noises not a problem! Then 2 days later specasvers call me saying they should of done a full hearing test so i go back down there but the night before i put some drops in my right ear to clear any wax that maybe in there? I dont know if this affected my results as now ATW are not taking me on!
This is after I passed interview, assesments gutted aint the word!

This sounds pretty tough. I don't understand why they sent you to Specasvers when you'd met the standard at the first medical.

Could you get your results from Specsavers and then get your own hearing test done to compare?

 

[stevienash]

I am so angry! They also got me to sig. A consent form so they could write to my consultant which I did. My pass was a boarderlone pass but a pass is a pass! To top off the conversation she told me that they never take on people who wear hearing aids! Feel quite discriminated against

 

[TDK]

I have a high BMI and passed the medical with no trouble at all.

For a driver? The BMI of 33 I believe is a guideline for the drivers grade.