Private medicals UK-any experiences?

I have scheduled a private medical exam with Nuffield affiliated private doctors in Cambridge UK. They promise a 'full examination' with ECG. If anyone has experience of what a 'full examination' means in the UK, please describe it. It seems that many doctors here rely more on X-ray vision and telepathy than on asking patients to undress to their underwear, and they seem to have abandoned routine male genital exams completely.

I had never a medical examination in UK, but I give you a link to Health Assessments :

https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/health-assessments/choosing-your-health-assessment?gaCampaign=healthassessment_tiles

I had a full health check recently. Before the exam you will have sometime before completed a questionnaire about your health and lifestyle. On the day of the exam I was first asked to provide a urine sample. I was then introduced to a female assistant who escorted me to her room. She then asked me to remove my shoes and socks and measured my height and weight. Then she then took my blood pressure. She then took a blood sample. She then did a lung function test by asking me to blow into an instrument. I was then asked to remove my shirt for an ECG. After a general chat and the opportunity to ask any questions I put on again my shoes and socks and my shirt and was asked to return to the waiting area for the doctor.

Shortly afterwards I was introduced to a female doctor and we went along to her room. I then had the opportunity to discuss at length any concerns I might have about my health. The doctor would have seen my completed health questionnaire. The doctor then commenced my physical examination. I was asked to sit on the examination couch while she examined my eyes and ears and then my throat while asking me to say “aah”. She then felt the glands in my neck. I was then asked to remove my shirt (I was not wearing a vest). She then used a stethoscope to examine my chest and back with the usual breathing in and out. I was then asked to lie on my back on the couch while she pressed and examined my abdomen.

I was then asked to remove my trousers, shoes and socks leaving me stripped down to my underpants. She then got me to lift and swivel each leg to test my joint mobility. Then she used a rubber hammer to test my reactions. She then completed a general examination of my skin to check for moles etc. She then said she wanted to do a testicular examination. She asked me while her back was turned to lower my underpants. She then put on rubber gloves and felt each testicle. She did not touch my penis as I was circumcised. (I did not have an erection). She then felt my groin and asked me to cough whilst checking for hernias. Finally she did a prostate check. I was ask to lie on my side while she inserted a gloved finger into my anus to feel the surface of my prostate and check if it was enlarged.

I then pulled up my underpants and sat down on a chair in front of the doctor’s desk to discuss the results of my examination. By then she had the results of my blood tests and previous bowel cancer test. I gave permission for a PSA test for a possible indication of prostate cancer. I then had an unhurried discussion with the doctor about the results and findings of my medical. Overall I was with the doctor for well over an hour. I was then told to get dressed. I found the whole thing a mildly erotic experience.

I had a full health check recently.

Well, that sounds promising. I'm booked in with a male doctor (each to his own)and I hope he is as thorough as that. Wonder why she didn't ask you to strip down to your pants right from the off? Where did you go for your medical?

I had an MOT at a bupa clinic a few years ago. When I arrived I booked in at the reception desk and did not wait long to be ushered through to give a urine sample and then to see the doctor.

When I went in I sat at the side of the desk and the doctor asked me a lot of questions about family history and life style, then The doctor explained it was time for him to examine me and I was asked to “pop behind the screen, get undressed and put the gown on opening to the back”. He didn’t mention underwear so left them on.

Then he took my height weight and asked me to sit on the table where he put a little machine on my finger and also took my blood pressure and a thomomitor In my mouth.

He then looked in my eyes ears nod and mouth and felt the glands in my neck and made me swallow. After this I was asked to lower the front of the gown and he spent time feeling under my arm pits before listening to my heart and lungs front and back. He then asked me to lie down so he could feel my belly. I got a bit nervous when he was feeling under the waste band of my boxer shorts.

He then raised the top of the gown up to my shoulders and the raised the bottom of the gown up to the bottom of my abdomen. And started feeling my legs asking me to do circular motions with each ankle and leg in turn. When he was finished he repositioned the gown and asked me to stand.

I was then asked to stand to and walk across the room, bend over and touch my toes (the gown was nearly falling off) and squat down a few times.

Then he asked me some questions about sexual activity and told me what he needed to do next before asking me to slip my “underpants” down and raise the front of the gown. He felt both my balls, slid my foreskin back and finally asked me to cough a few times whilst he pushed his finger in under my pubic region. Then was told I could get dressed and unless I had any questions for him he couldn’t find anything of concern.

Hope this helps

Guessing though if your over 40 they are going to want to have a feel or the prostate as well but I’m to young for that

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The medical which I had described in my previous posting was the Nuffield 360 Health Check. If this is the one you are to receive it will be very comprehensive and include a testicular check. If you go to the Nuffield site you will be able to see a list of all the checks.

Both me and husband have had 3 private medicals now 1 BUPA 2 Nuffield. Husband did not get his prostate checked until the last exam when he was over 50 as at BUPA exam and first Nuffield as he has no family history they just did the testicular exam. Interestingly when we booked our exams I always get asked for preferred gender of doctor (always female for me) and husband never gets asked so had two males and then a female and it was female doctor who did the prostate check. For all of the exams husband was in a gown but with underwear on until the last bit, all doctors asked him to remove his underwear totally rather than pull them down, and interestingly both male doctors asked him to retract his own foreskin but the female doctor did it herself. Apart from that his exams have been pretty much same as Dlog has posted here.

Seems there may be a difference in male and female doctors techniques.

Lisa

I've had a number of private medicals over the years carried out at different clinics. They tend to follow a similar format but some clinics also offer a chest x-ray. But generally you will have a regular medical with blood test, urine test, eyesight, hearing, BP etc., and then as a man I'm asked to undress to my lower underwear. A physical examination is then carried out which includes the stethoscope, reflexes etc, and a prone ECG is always done but sometimes that might be on the treadmill. A testicular examination is always done and my experience is that the male doctors examine the testicles while I'm laying on the bed cupping the testicles with the rolling method, but the female doctors mostly ask me to stand with my back against the bed and examine from underneath feeling the testicles with their fingers. When I reached the age of 40+ I had my first rectal examination and PSA blood test. I have always been asked to lay on my side with my knees bent up to my chest for the rectal exam, I've never had one while bending over or kneeling on all fours. The women at my company had their medicals at BUPA for a number of years, and they were asked to bring their own dressing gown to work to wear during the medical. They normally undressed to their knickers and put their gown on. Their medical started with a mammogram and a breast examination, followed by a general medical with the usual tests and an internal vaginal examination with smear tests. Women of 38+ also had a rectal examination. Interestingly the women had two samples taken during the smear test, the usual one from the cervix and another from the back of the vagina above the cervix. One of my female friends at work would show me her results letter and it mentioned the two vaginal tests.

I would definitely expect a genital exam, my vulva has been checked every time and sometimes 2 fingers inserted (never a smear though). The state of undress is variable, usually in T-shirt and knickers until it's time to check those parts, but also have previously had to remove my knickers at the start of the medical.

I would definitely expect a genital exam, my vulva has been checked every time and sometimes 2 fingers inserted (never a smear though). The state of undress is variable, usually in T-shirt and knickers until it's time to check those parts, but also have previously had to remove my knickers at the start of the medical.

For BUPA it was a T-shirt and knickers, for Nuffield it was a proper gown with knickers on. Never had to remove my knickers until the point when the doctor was about to do the genital exam, in all cases it was a pretty thorough exam checking vulva, clitoris, getting me to cough to check for leakage and muscle tone etc, before having a smear followed by internal exam. Also as I was 45 at my first BUPA exam the doctor also did a rectal exam which she sort of apologised for but still insisted, and have had one at both my Nuffield medicals. With BUPA had to remove the T-shirt for the cardiovascular and breast exam so that was a little weird just being in knickers for that bit especially as had to do the self check of boobs so she could check I was doing it right, that bit was done almost at end before genital exam so she basically said something like you can put the T-shirt back on now, so all that is left is the genital portion of the the medical now so if you can slip your knickers off for me please. For Nuffield with gown just had towrope it to waist for breast exam and then put it back up before being asked to take off my knickers.

Lisa

The women at my company had their medicals at BUPA for a number of years, and they were asked to bring their own dressing gown to work to wear during the medical. They normally undressed to their knickers and put their gown on. Their medical started with a mammogram and a breast examination, followed by a general medical with the usual tests and an internal vaginal examination with smear tests. Women of 38+ also had a rectal examination. Interestingly the women had two samples taken during the smear test, the usual one from the cervix and another from the back of the vagina above the cervix. One of my female friends at work would show me her results letter and it mentioned the two vaginal tests.

Were these medicals required for employment at the company? If so, were they required to be done annually or just as a new hire?

@rabidbiker

Were these medicals required for employment at the company? If so, were they required to be done annually or just as a new hire?

The medicals were completely optional, they were part of the employment package and you could take advantage of them annually if you so wished. The men used to go to a private GP practice in London that also had a chest x-ray facility, and the women went to BUPA. BUPA would bring a big trailer and park it near to our offices and the mammograms and medicals were done there. After a few years things changed and the company allowed us to go to any private clinic in London of our choice and just bill the company, they also gave us a plastic card that was good for private GP appointments but I never had the need to use that.

@lisapa7

For BUPA it was a T-shirt and knickers, for Nuffield it was a proper gown with knickers on. Never had to remove my knickers until the point when the doctor was about to do the genital exam. For Nuffield with gown just had towrope it to waist for breast exam and then put it back up before being asked to take off my knickers.

Lisa

On one occasion the BUPA nurse who was doing my friends medical found a lump in her breast. She called the duty doctor and he asked my friend if she had her knickers on under the gown, she said yes and so he told her to remove her gown completely and he examined her breast. The lump turned out to be a watery cyst that my friend was prone to get occasionally, and I went with her to a Harley Street clinic where she had it drained by needle, not very pleasant. My friend would also find the speculum uncomfortable and the BUPA nurse would tell her to make a fist with each hand and put them under her bottom to raise her hips slightly and that might help, they didn't use stirrups or leg-rests at all.

Thank you for the reply, Dr. Philip. I know there are employers that require a medical prior to beginning employment with the company, but there are many more that don’t require it.

Here in the U.S., it appears that more employers don’t require a medical exam versus ones that do. It does seem that more physically demanding jobs quite often require an exam, whereas most office jobs do not require one. The exception is if there is some type of insurance requirement for a medical exam, usually for a reduced premium for the company, and sometimes a reduced premium for the employee. My wife falls into that category. She has an office job, and in exchange for a reduced premium, no deductible and low copays, she has to have an annual physical done by the provider of her choosing.

However, it seems that the majority of employers in the U.S. now require drug screening prior to employment with the company. Probably a result of the widespread opioid epidemic. Employers don’t want that type of liability working for them.

I know there are employers that require a medical prior to beginning employment with the company

That might often be the case in the USA, but not usually a thing in the UK.

I know there are employers that require a medical prior to beginning employment with the company, but there are many more that don’t require it.

Physicals prior to employment are generally required for jobs that require some level of public safety - example would be an airline pilot or policeman but there are lots other less glamorous jobs that fall into that category. Also, highly paid executives whose demise would have a great financial impact on the company or its stock may be required to get a physical prior to being hired.

Physicals prior to employment are generally required for jobs that require some level of public safety - example would be an airline pilot or policeman but there are lots other less glamorous jobs that fall into that category. Also, highly paid executives whose demise would have a great financial impact on the company or its stock may be required to get a physical prior to being hired.

The “executive physical”, as it is often referred to, which from what I’ve read, is very thorough and comprehensive. Any time I see an attractive female executive, I imagine her getting one of those physicals!

For BUPA it was a T-shirt and knickers, for Nuffield it was a proper gown with knickers on. With BUPA had to remove the T-shirt for the cardiovascular and breast exam so that was a little weird just being in knickers for that bit especially as had to do the self check of boobs so she could check I was doing it right, that bit was done almost at end before genital exam so she basically said something like you can put the T-shirt back on now, so all that is left is the genital portion of the the medical now so if you can slip your knickers off for me please.

Lisa

I would love to see my wife receive a medical in just a T-shirt and knickers. Watching her receive a breast exam with the T-shirt off, wearing her knickers only, then putting the T-shirt back on and removing her knickers for the pelvic and rectal exams. It would be a different experience versus seeing her medical being done wearing a vest and drape like how I currently see her exams performed.

@rabidbiker

Thank you for the reply, Dr. Philip. I know there are employers that require a medical prior to beginning employment with the company, but there are many more that don’t require it.

As well as the optional annual medicals I mentioned before there was also a mandatory one off medical that was required prior to employment. The medical would be part of the induction process and normally took place a week or two after employment commenced. I think it was for insurance purposes as we had life cover provided of 4 times our annual salary. The medical was more quick and basic than the optional annual ones that were on offer to permanent staff, just a urine sample and a general medical, but I had to drop my pants and cough. I never had the cause to discuss these medicals with any of the women but I would imagine they got much of the same, just a quick general medical and nothing much intimate. I worked in the financial sector in London and tended to stay long term at companies, but I recall having at least one maybe two previous induction medical prior to this one. The job offers I had were normally made subject to medical, but it was just a routine thing really and I never heard of anyone failing one and getting fired!

If you want serious exams, the flight physicals and long-haul trucker physicals get into intimate territory.