GP "Check-up" before event

[944fan]

I have signed up for a sporting event. Swimming the length of Coniston water (5.25 miles). When signing up I had to agree to have a "medical" before doing it to ensure I wasn't going to kick the bucket 20 yards in.

I ticked yes without thinking but was wondering should I actually do this? I am 34 and fit. I swim 11+km a week and am not remotely concerned about completing the distance. Especially since I have another 7 months training before the event.

My BP is ok, I have had a ECG in the past and that showed no abnormalities. I have no medial issues and am not on any medication.

Seems like a waste of mine and the GPs time or is it a sensible precaution?

[sjabrown]

It is most likely a waste of your and your GPs time. It is a poor attempt of someone organising or insuring an event to cover their arses. There is always a chance that someone will fall ill during a sporting event. There is the occasional death in the London marathon, but if you gather 50,000 people in one place for several hours there's still a chance one might die even without doing a marathon.

Deleted and reposted as logged in as someone else initially.

[numtumfutunch]

No, not a waste of your GP's time at all







Because they will legitimately bill you!

[944fan]

numtumfutunch said:

No, not a waste of your GP's time at all







Because they will legitimately bill you!

My GP is NHS so how are they going to bill me?

Regardless sounds like a waste of time. Its not as if I am a massive fatty who is worried about actually even completing it.

[JumboBeef]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/jul/15/bri...

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-new...

http://miskinradio.co.uk/dartford-man-dies-after-c...

There's three 34 year olds who drowned Of course we don't know the true stories behind them.

I'd go for a check up.

[AngryPartsBloke]

944fan said:

numtumfutunch said:

No, not a waste of your GP's time at all







Because they will legitimately bill you!

My GP is NHS so how are they going to bill me?

Regardless sounds like a waste of time. Its not as if I am a massive fatty who is worried about actually even completing it.

It's private work, you don't get it on the NHS. Your GP will charge you.

[944fan]

JumboBeef said:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/jul/15/bri...

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-new...

http://miskinradio.co.uk/dartford-man-dies-after-c...

There's three 34 year olds who drowned Of course we don't know the true stories behind them.

I'd go for a check up.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. :-)

One of those was in the middle of winter with a chap who has mental health issues. The other was during a cross channel swim and that person would have had to have the medical before being allowed to start so that worked out well.

Still think its a waste of time for a 5 mile swim.

[Bobley]

Which surgery are you at? I know a GP in MK. I've just asked them what they charge, while I was asking if we needed anything from the supermarket on the way home...

Edited by Bobley on Tuesday 10th February 16:45

[944fan]

Bobley said:

Which surgery are you at? I know a GP in MK. I've just asked them what they charge, while I was asking if we needed anything from the supermarket on the way home...

Edited by Bobley on Tuesday 10th February 16:45

Walnut Tree Health Centre.

I'm checking with work as well as I can take private medical insurance so going to see if they do a check up with that.

[ewenm]

My GP charged me £17 or so for a similar check up I needed for a race in France. I run 50+ miles a week and have been competing for 27 years so it felt a bit pointless but no real hassle. It's unlikely the simple checks will reveal anything anyway.

That said, a training partner of mine has recently had a whole battery of tests due to a slight heart irregularity his GP noticed at a routine check up.

[944fan]

Checked with my GP and they don't do sports forms at all, even privately.

Was told to try the Saxon clinc which is a private surgery. Sure that will be cheap!