Heathrow Medical Services - West Drayton

tadhg M.

Excellent medical centre for class 1, 2 and 3 medicals. Even though I arrived extremely early due to my early flight, they were very accommodating and I was attended to straight away. Excellent facilities especially the waiting room between appointments. The doctors were consummate professionals who were also able to lend an ear to any of my silly stories. I would definitely recommend this medical centre to other professional pilots and hopefully I will be back next year!

Armidas R.

I recently completed my Class 1 medical at Heathrow Medical Services, and the experience was excellent. The staff were professional, efficient, and friendly throughout the process. The appointment was well-organized, and I received my results the same day, which was incredibly convenient. I highly recommend their services for anyone needing a medical—great team and hassle-free experience!

Roh

You would think that at this level you would be dealing with professionals but your about to be shocked.

Initial class 1 medical was dragged into a long costly process for no reason because of their poor instructions on the day. In the weeks to come you realise that they never call you back as promised, never reply as promised and hide behind their email system. Basic information from them is time consuming and near impossible to come by. They make it as costly and painful process unnecessarily. Only when I started formal complaints process they improved their communication slightly but still with an attitude. We sent so many polite emails just asking for more clarity and information on where to get the tests required but never got a straight answer. You pay a hefty fee and recieve very little in return. My class 1 was dragged out over a 5 month period only to prove that there was nothing wrong in the first place.

My advice would be to read through the reviews and go elsewhere where they will provide a better service. Here you will be strung along. I have email transcripts of my experience which I will keep as a reminder of my painstaking experience with this company.

Max D.

I had an Initial Class 1 Dual EASA/CAA Medical undertaken and found the staff to be very professional and friendly. The process to book an Initial Class 1 was not completely straightforward, albeit that is more to do with CAA registration requirements. I will be looking to come back again later this year for the renewal.

Patrick J.

CAA Class 1 initial applicant: thought I’d share my positive experience for anyone else who might be slightly daunted by this!

I had the pleasure of meeting Kapil, Aileen and James for my initial. Parking was simple and easy (make sure to put your reg in the tablet in the reception) and I was promptly greeted by another member of staff who promptly started working through the stack of paperwork you need to bring, and then started with the normal wee-in-a-cup scenario.

I then saw Aileen, the optometrist first for a particularly thorough eye exam. This was pleasant and not rushed at all, and Aileen fielded all of my questions surrounding the equipment being used and helped me to understand the meaning behind the measured values.

Back down to the reception and James presented me with the oral drug screen test—this is akin to sticking an oversize lollipop in your mouth for fifteen minutes, only the normally sweet end is in fact a somewhat substantial bandage which relieves you of all of your saliva, until it doesn’t anymore and you’re sat in a room with the other applicants exchanging funny glances at the odd spectacle but unable to speak—quite amusing!

James then returned, relieved me of the oral contraption and led me out the back past the administration team for blood work, the audiogram and spirometry. An A350 departed 27R whilst we were between buildings and you’re right under it—very cool as it’s easy to forget just how close you are in the quiet reception room. Nothing unusual here, your height and weight is measured and then it’s a tiny finger prick blood test which anyone who has donated blood before will be familiar with. The audiogram is clicking a button when you hear different frequencies being played. The spirometry test is simply exhaling through a tube as hard and as completely as you can. I gather you need to be able to expel 70% of your total lung capacity in the first second. James, the technician explained all of these thoroughly and was on good form, we shared a few jokes and made it clear he enjoyed working at HMS.

Back into the waiting room and realised I’d been sat on the wrong side of it for the past hour and a bit—the other side of the waiting room has a TV that streams FlightFocus365 so you can watch the departures happening half a mile away. There’s another little screen that runs FlightRadar24 but you can’t interface with it so you’ll end up looking at it on your phone instead if you’re as much of a nerd as I am.

I was then greeted by Dr Kapil Ojha who took me upstairs for the final series of exams. This took the format of a relaxed interview about lifestyle, and centred largely upon my medical history and flying aspirations. There wasn’t any ‘leading the witness’ or trying to get you to admit things that will let the CAA tell you no as is so often bantered around when talking medicals at the airport or with other pilots. Kapil beamed with enthusiasm, being a PPL holder himself and rounded off the final series physical tests. These are the reflex tests where you get bonked with a hammer, have to walk toe-to-toe in a straight line (American DUI style), and he then checked my blood pressure and de-briefed. I had a couple of referrals as expected (for example childhood asthma needs signing off at Class 1 but not Class 2 level, this can be done in-house).

I was left with a clear sense of next steps and recommendations were made for the appropriate consultants to see next, onwards and upwards!

Many thanks to HMS for the easy experience and your professional conduct—hopefully see you next year for the renewal.

Sachin K.

I had an exceptional level of service at Heathrow Medical Services earlier today. I was seen to promptly and the utmost case was taken to address my medical need in a timely, courteous and professional manner.

George B.

Excellent staff. Friendly atmosphere. Always trying to accommodate you. Class 1 reval for me. Seamless and efficient.

Hrvoje J.

Had an initial UK medical last year and now came for the regular one.
Happy with everything except for the booking system…it would be much better overall experience if online booking were available.