Medical Condition in Focus
Controlled Diabetes, without significant complications
Well controlled Diabetes, without significant complications, is not a barrier to working offshore.
Before booking your appointment, you will need to obtain the following.
Most recent (no older than 12 months)
– annual foot screening
– annual eye screeniong
– Hba1c blood test
– if under a diabetes specialist, a copy of you most recent clinic letter
If your screening and bloods are not up to date, a shorter certificate is usually issued until you have evidence they are completed
Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes
ndividuals with NIDDM are assessed with regard to:
- Risk of hypoglycaemic attack
- Presence of complications which may affect mobility or ability to respond in emergency situations
An increased frequency of medical examination may be appropriate to ensure regular review of the overall condition and specifically those issues above.
ie: unless you can show several years of good diabetic control (hba1c of 58 or below), the certificate is usually of shorter duration
If the individual has secondary complications of their diabetes, these must be assessed under the relevant criteria for that condition. eg: foot or eye disease.
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) (Type I)
The risks associated with IDDM are not compatible with unrestricted fitness to work on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).
However, an individual may be considered for restricted certification of fitness to work offshore if the following requirements are met:
- The examining doctor must obtain a report from the individual’s treating physician
- The individual must have had good control of their diabetes as defined by accepted clinical criteria for a minimum of the prior 6 months
- The individual must be able to self-manage their insulin requirements
- The examining doctor must satisfy himself that the individual does not suffer from hypoglycaemia unawareness
- If the individual has secondary complications of their diabetes, these must be assessed under the relevant criteria for that condition
- The operator’s medical adviser must be consulted regarding the individual case and must agree with the proposal to allow the individual to work on the installation
- The installation Medic must be competent in the management of diabetic emergencies
- There must be a supply of glucagon and intravenous dextrose on board the platform
- Certification must be restricted to named platform(s)
- Certification must be restricted to a maximum of 1 year
All individuals with IDDM working offshore must be reviewed at least annually to ensure control remains acceptable and the above stipulations continue to be met.
OEUK Guidelines 2025 Version 8 November 2025
- Insulin treated category 1 occupations – not fit for work on normally unmanned installations
- Insulin treated category 2 occupations with good control – 1 year standard certificate
- Type 2 Diabetes on oral hypoglycaemics except metformin (eg, Gliclazide, Dapagliflozin) in Category 1 jobs – conditional certificate after operator medical advisor approval
North East Offshore Medicals
We are conveniently located for easy access by car or public transport. We have free parking so you can avoid city centre parking hassles and long wait times. We provide rapid assessments for those in South Tyneside and throughout the North East. Most medical checkups take under 30 minutes. We issue electronic PDF certificates on the spot and offer evening and Saturday appointments.
Why Choose Us
At South Tyneside Offshore Medicals, we offer friendly and professional services to help you meet specific medical requirements, from OEUK, RUK and Chester step tests to fit to train and return to work medicals.
Short Notice Appointments
We understand that offshore deployment dates can change at a moment's notice. To support energy and maritime workers, our clinic prioritises short-notice and last-minute bookings for OEUK (formerly OGUK) medical assessments.
Competitive Pricing
At South Tyneside Offshore Medicals North East, we deliver tier-one offshore medical services designed to minimize your total cost of ownership while maximizing workforce uptime.
Fast and Efficient
Most medicals generally completed in under 30 minutes. We strive to help you pass your medicals on the day Where an unforeseeable issue is identified at the medical, we provide the opportunity to delay or reschedule Electronic Certificates issued in PDF format for ease of sharing
Book a Consultation
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours. If you need a quicker response please contact us via phone. 07977462121
FAQs
An offshore medical is a comprehensive health assessment designed to ensure an individual is physically and mentally fit to work in demanding offshore environments, such as oil and gas rigs or Wind Turbines.
An OEUK (Offshore Energies UK) medical is a health assessment for individuals working in the offshore oil, gas, and energy sectors (including wind farms). It was formerly known as the OGUK (Oil and Gas UK) medical.
The most commonly accepted medical is the OEUK + Chester Step Test. Other standards include Renewable UK (RUK) and Energy Institute (EI). If starting in the industry it is best to do a combination of the 3.
The OEUK / OGUK assessments last approximately 20 minutes (30 minutes for GWO / RUK which includes a Chester Step) and involves examination of the main systems of the body such as heart, lungs, ENT, neurological and musculoskeletal system.
Also included are
- Blood Pressure and pulse
- BMI
- Vision
- Hearing test (practical assessment or audiometry)
- Oral Examination
Yes. Unresolved infections can affect your heart rate, blood pressure and make it more difficult to complete a chester step test. You should advise us in advance so we can rearrange your appointment.
It is your responsibility to advise us at the time of booking, any medical conditions, medication, previous surgery or cancer treatment. We can then advise you what information is needed such as most recent hospital letter
Yes. Any current broken teeth, exposed roots or dental infection will require a dental assessment to confirm you are at low risk of needing emergency dental treatment. The dental report is needed before your certificate can be issued.
If your blood pressure reading is too high at the appointment, it is best to arrange an Ambulatory Blood Pressure reading at your local pharmacy or GP practice.