Assessments & Medicals discussion

[energol]

It's hard to work out as I was taken off the job a few years ago with high BP and recently I had a medical and it was just about the same readings and all I got was a letter to give to my Doctor and I was fine to go back to work.

 

[Moll]

It's hard to work out as I was taken off the job a few years ago with high BP and recently I had a medical and it was just about the same readings and all I got was a letter to give to my Doctor and I was fine to go back to work.

Do you mind me asking what readings you had that were considered high?

 

[Owen2323]

I suffer from hypertension and come from a police background where the second figure always had to be 90 or below. White coat syndrome often meant I had to either come back a week later or get a reading from my doctor etc to get it below the required level.

When I had my train driver medical I was expecting to have to do the same as it was either 95 or 96 but this was deemed OK (I didn't catch what the limits were......)

 

[Moll]

I suffer from hypertension and come from a police background where the second figure always had to be 90 or below. White coat syndrome often meant I had to either come back a week later or get a reading from my doctor etc to get it below the required level.

When I had my train driver medical I was expecting to have to do the same as it was either 95 or 96 but this was deemed OK (I didn't catch what the limits were......)

Thank you. .... that puts my mind at rest a little then as I'm usually around 89 or 90 so fingers crossed will be ok

 

[RyanC87]

No such thing as the bmi cut off.

Blood pressure does have limits, but again if over on the day usually sent to Dr to have it checked and they can sign you off.

 

[Moll]

No such thing as the bmi cut off.

Blood pressure does have limits, but again if over on the day usually sent to Dr to have it checked and they can sign you off.

Thanks

 

[scotraildriver]

Cut off here is 160/100

 

[Moll]

Cut off here is 160/100

Thanks

 

[Mattydo]

If you have an a BP machine at home it's worth doing a week's worth of readings morning and evening and taking it along to your medical. This can help to quickly see whether you have hypertension or white coat syndrome and the medical staff often appreciate it.

 

[Moll]

If you have an a BP machine at home it's worth doing a week's worth of readings morning and evening and taking it along to your medical. This can help to quickly see whether you have hypertension or white coat syndrome and the medical staff often appreciate it.

Yes, planning on doing that. ....as well as cutting down on the caffeine!

Thanks all for your responses. Much appreciated

 

[kingtipu007]

No. This test is to see if you can remember information you’ve just heard and read. It’s a test of short term memory. If you fail and need to re-sit the test you get a different passage of text about a train’s braking system.

Thank you for the information. What can i do practice this element of the assessment?

 

[Terry844]

Find a paragraph of text, read it and then get someone to ask you questions about the paragraph and see what you remember

 

[nolypops83]

I failed my 2 hand coordination test yesterday (passed everything else) any tips on getting some practice for my next go? I am a gamer before everyone asks and that didn’t help.

 

[NTD]

I failed my 2 hand coordination test yesterday (passed everything else) any tips on getting some practice for my next go? I am a gamer before everyone asks and that didn’t help.

As you now know, those joysticks are extremely sensitive and light.... when I passed that test, I went outside of the lines on pretty much every single attempt, albeit only for a very brief moment, but never tried to 'correct' myself - I simply kept moving on at a steady pace. Since you get the same pattern many times, I'm guessing they're looking for improvements in time/accuracy as you go along. So don't worry about moving outside of the lines but do try to improve as you go along, and definitely don't do it slowly, but rather at a somewhat fast but steady pace. Definitely don't rush it either.

 

[DontPlayBoxing]

I failed my 2 hand coordination test yesterday (passed everything else) any tips on getting some practice for my next go? I am a gamer before everyone asks and that didn’t help.

How do you know you failed just that btw?

I sat the computerised assessments and never got a break down, just told I passed the assessment day.

 

[TangoDelta]

Does anyone have any previous experience of going through the medical having suffered from anxiety?

I took medication for anxiety approx 7 years ago for around a year before feeling I didn’t need them anymore and lived depression/anxiety free for many years. I had a traumatic event around 20 months ago involving the death of a friend which caused me a considerable amount of distress and lead to my anxiety coming back, I sought help for this and was prescribed antidepressant medication but only took this for a short time as I also sought help from a counsellor and made lifestyle changes in order to overcome it.

Is this likely to hinder my application? I have not taken medication for around 16 months now but I know the death of my friend combined with a few personal circumstances left me in a very dark place for a few months before I was able to get back on top of it and I would hate for this to go against my application.

 

[nolypops83]

How do you know you failed just that btw?

I sat the computerised assessments and never got a break down, just told I passed the assessment day.

The assessor gave me feedback.

 

[Shampoo]

That's good then because I'm very fortunate to have been in a job where I have an example for everything, time will be on my side there!

The DMI was daunting! First of all they ask you about yourself and your employment history, then they asked what I know about Northern and why I wanted to be a train driver. What I thought the role of a train driver was etc. Then there was what felt like 8/9 tell me about a time questions.. ones I can remember were;

- Name a time you've dealt with a colleague who has a different approach to you
- Name a time you've communicated clearly in an emergency situation
- Name a time you've had to work by yourself and maintain concentration
- Name a time you had to prioritise a different task
- Name a time you've been given a project, why was it important

With those questions as well there was lots of mini questions in them so it made thinking of an example on the spot even harder. It seemed to go on and on forever, I even quoted the wrong CEO of the company but that was Wikipedias fault so I just said some more facts and joked they're from Wiki too so they're probably wrong.

Just be yourself, I was dropping little jokes for the tell me about yourself bit just to ease tension a little bit and it seemed to work.

How did you get on with your interview?

 

[Oscar69]

Hi All, recently passed the vse and m7 for Avanti. Wondering would anyone know the best practice material to buy for the next round of tests that best replicate the assessment day for Avanti.

 

[12LDA28C]

Does anyone have any previous experience of going through the medical having suffered from anxiety?

I took medication for anxiety approx 7 years ago for around a year before feeling I didn’t need them anymore and lived depression/anxiety free for many years. I had a traumatic event around 20 months ago involving the death of a friend which caused me a considerable amount of distress and lead to my anxiety coming back, I sought help for this and was prescribed antidepressant medication but only took this for a short time as I also sought help from a counsellor and made lifestyle changes in order to overcome it.

Is this likely to hinder my application? I have not taken medication for around 16 months now but I know the death of my friend combined with a few personal circumstances left me in a very dark place for a few months before I was able to get back on top of it and I would hate for this to go against my application.

I don't see why this should hinder your application. Not sure this question gets asked at an initial questionnaire stage but if you were asked directly at a later stage if you have ever suffered from anxiety it would be wise to admit it at that point. If you are not currently suffering, or on medication then I see no problem.

 

[DontPlayBoxing]

Hi All, recently passed the vse and m7 for Avanti. Wondering would anyone know the best practice material to buy for the next round of tests that best replicate the assessment day for Avanti.

Honestly, dont.

The material they send you is enough, anything extra can be found online.

I've seen some of the prices for additional material and it really does not seem worth it when you get the information for free.

 

[ThePeakNed]

Apologies if this is in the wrong place.

I'm due to have a medical at some point in the future for a trainee driver role and looking for some guidance around blood pressure and BMI. I have searched previous posts but can't find anything definitive.

I have suffered with white coat syndrome when having blood pressure taken at the doctor's previously, but at home it's lower and usually around the 131/89 mark. Can anyone tell me if this is within acceptable limits?

Also, i've seen for new starters on another thread (not sure if it's TOC specific?) BMI must be 28 or lower? I'm currently 29 so wondering if I need to lose a bit more timber!

Thanks in advance for any responses.

BMI is very subjective, and in the recent medicals I've had, has barely even been given a mention. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Mine hovers around the 30ish mark and it wasn't an issue for one of the FOCs, and nothing was said about it during my entry medical for the role I currently do.

Be reet.

 

[TangoDelta]

I don't see why this should hinder your application. Not sure this question gets asked at an initial questionnaire stage but if you were asked directly at a later stage if you have ever suffered from anxiety it would be wise to admit it at that point. If you are not currently suffering, or on medication then I see no problem.

I don’t recall this being asked at any stage so far and I’m assuming it will come up as part of the medical and I will be 100% honest and transparent about it.

Thanks

 

[Moll]

BMI is very subjective, and in the recent medicals I've had, has barely even been given a mention. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Mine hovers around the 30ish mark and it wasn't an issue for one of the FOCs, and nothing was said about it during my entry medical for the role I currently do.

Be reet.

Cheers

 

[mugatneysface]

Hi buddy is there any way I could practise for the TCT test? OPC don't offer a practise to buy but do offer a TCST (Ticket checking and selling test) and was wondering if the 2 are that different? Also hope you were successful in your application.

 

[12LDA28C]

I don’t recall this being asked at any stage so far and I’m assuming it will come up as part of the medical and I will be 100% honest and transparent about it.

Thanks

I believe the question is asked on a written questionnaire you have to fill out as part of the railway medical.

 

[TangoDelta]

I believe the question is asked on a written questionnaire you have to fill out as part of the railway medical.

I thought as much, many thanks

 

[Yulbus]

Hi everyone.
Had my medical today and everything went well apart from the cardiogram. The lady who dealt with me said before she did it that 90 percent of results are abnormal. Measured me up for uniform and told I have to wait for results from doctor. I don't have any health issues. Has anything similar happened to anyone else.
TIA

 

[Chrysalis]

There are a couple of threads about this, such as these:

ECG anomoly - trainee driver role

Hello All I have finally completed all aspects of recruitment for a trainee driver role with Southern Rail. I am a fit and able person I like to think I'm active as I go for regular runs and do mountain treks annually. Anyway long story short I went for a medical and all went fine except for...

www.railforums.co.uk

Medical - False ECG referral for Echocardiogram?

I have recently had a medical and mostly everything checked out ok except my ECG came up as an abnormality that need to be investigated. The graph/report was sent off to the Cardiologist who advised that a Echocardiogram is needed to further assess the possibility of Obstructive coronary disease...

www.railforums.co.uk

Abnormal ECG

Hello All I attended a medical for train driver and was told that I had an abnormal ECG, the condition being left axis deviation. This is a common abnormality, affecting about 10 percent of people, it is not life threatening and does not affect me in any way. Rang the TOC and they said that they...

www.railforums.co.uk

I wouldn't worry too much. It seems like worst case they have you do some tests (e.g. echocardiogram, working ECG) privately so that you can prove it's fine.

Did they say what the ECG showed that was abnormal?

 

[Yulbus]

There are a couple of threads about this, such as these:

ECG anomoly - trainee driver role

Hello All I have finally completed all aspects of recruitment for a trainee driver role with Southern Rail. I am a fit and able person I like to think I'm active as I go for regular runs and do mountain treks annually. Anyway long story short I went for a medical and all went fine except for...

www.railforums.co.uk

Medical - False ECG referral for Echocardiogram?

I have recently had a medical and mostly everything checked out ok except my ECG came up as an abnormality that need to be investigated. The graph/report was sent off to the Cardiologist who advised that a Echocardiogram is needed to further assess the possibility of Obstructive coronary disease...

www.railforums.co.uk

Abnormal ECG

Hello All I attended a medical for train driver and was told that I had an abnormal ECG, the condition being left axis deviation. This is a common abnormality, affecting about 10 percent of people, it is not life threatening and does not affect me in any way. Rang the TOC and they said that they...

www.railforums.co.uk

I wouldn't worry too much. It seems like worst case they have you do some tests (e.g. echocardiogram, working ECG) privately so that you can prove it's fine.

Did they say what the ECG showed that was abnormal?

Hi. Yeah something about sinus nodes. Heart beating 2 milliseconds to slow