Since the challenge of
SARS-CoVID19 has become significant throughout the world, organisations
especially working in the Oil and Gas sector have seen a dramatic fall in their
profits. BP recently cutting its shareholder dividend for the first time in decades
as they made a loss over the previous reporting cycle. The cost of oil per
barrel has fallen dramatically despite the cost of producing rising over the
past few months.
These challenges not only have a
profound effect on workers directly employed by oil and gas companies but also
on ancillary companies supporting this sector.
Appropriately Oil and Gas UK suspended the requirement for workers to have a medical from the time of
COVID-19, to ensure the safety of workers and medical staff. They did this by extending
the current medical certification dates. It not only protected individuals who
were required to have an oil and gas medical certificate but also protected the
doctors who were required to undertake the medical. It also reduced the
requirement for workers to travel to different cities in order to complete
their medical process, something the UK government required in order to protect
the wider public.
Since the reduction of the number
of cases of COVID-19 in the UK, the suspension of the medical certification
process has now adapted and indeed workers are now able to undertake a UK Oiland Gas medical, as long as it is safe to do so.
We are at the PrivateMedical.Clinic™, have always had robust
infection control procedures and policies in place however to ensure the safety
of both staff and clients attending the clinic we have put in additional
requirements. These include all clients confirming that I have not had any symptoms
of COVID-19 for the preceding two weeks before attending their clinic
appointment. We also send all forms and consents via email a few days before
the medical assessment in order that the client completes the forms safely when
at home and they can then send them back by email the day before the medical or
bring forms with them to the clinic. They are also required to wear a face mask
before entering our building and the use of hand sanitiser as they enter the
clinic. On entering the clinic, they will have a non-contact temperature check
to ensure all parties are safe to undertake the medical process.The doctor undertaking the
medical will be in full scrubs, wear a face mask and face shield and the rooms
are thoroughly cleaned once the client has left the premises.
We’ve also put in place payment
options via the website so that the medical can be paid for remotely, and also,
we urge clients to use credit cards by noncontact payment methods.
Despite the costs of these
additional measures, we at the PrivateMedical.Clinic™ have strived to limit any
rises in our OGUK medical prices. This despite the cost of significant rise in
personal protective equipment (PPE) and the reduced numbers of patients we are
able to safely see per day. Our prices remain competitive and our processes
remain robust, safe and efficient.
We endeavour to give a stress
free, safe experience which is driven by our experienced, friendly Occupational
Doctor. The vast majority of clients leaving with their 2-year certificate in
hand, happy and smiling.