Diabetics

[Jon Brooks]

anyone know of anyone with a commercial endorsment who is diabetic?
Am looking at getting mine.
They seem to be saying if you insulin dependent forget it.

I can drive an ambulance, I can drive the medical at Brands hatch, I can fly but cant get a commercial endorsment

Regards

[tim griffin]

Hi Jon
sorry my friend but MCA will not let you have a commercial endorsement
if you are insulin dependant, a very good friend a yachtmaster instructor
is a diabetic and lost his and also instructors tickets appealed and was turned down , you can of course appeal it would depend on what medical evidence you can provide to say you would be a low risk and if you were succesful you may be restricted in distance from a safe haven or nominated
port of departure, it does seem crazy that you are allowed to do everything
else in life but they class diabetes as a disability, the seamans medical states
you must have no limiting disabilities , how they come to this decision is i think subject to interpretation, i wish you luck with this let me know the outcome of the appeal
regards tim
www.griffmarineservices.co.uk

[The Jackeens]

Jon
Might be worth researching the Disability Discrimination legislation (fairly recent).

You could search 'Disability Discrimination Act'.

e.g. http://www.disability.gov.uk/dda/ ...you may get good links for advice in the area.

Good luck & hope you persevere & are successful

MISSUS

[David Hickman]

Jon,
Are you insulin injection dependant or do you take the tablet form? The ML5 only asks if you are injection dependant.
I will forward a copy of the ML5 to you to have a read.

David

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by David Hickman

Jon,
Are you insulin injection dependant or do you take the tablet form? The ML5 only asks if you are injection dependant.
I will forward a copy of the ML5 to you to have a read.

David

David

Many thanks
Already had the form and yes am insulin dependant
Ah well thems the break will delve a bit deeper though

Cheers

[Paul F]

Jon
Try contacting Mike at Herne Bay.He has been down this road in great depth for instructor and commercial.
Paul

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by Paul F

Jon
Try contacting Mike at Herne Bay.He has been down this road in great depth for instructor and commercial.
Paul

Paul

Thanks for the advice, will give him a go.
Is he diabetic to?

Can't imagine why you would need it for instructors to.
I have been teaching for more years than I care to remember in medical and radio subjects

Regards

[David Hickman]

That's true Jon, No medical required to be an instructor. Interesting point raised.

[Rupert Bear]

I had been looking into this for the last while and the latest is that the MCA has been encouraging me to go for the medical. An ENG1 is a no-no but the ML5 is a possibility.
The crazy thing is that I go to sea and have to get special exemptions from the ENG1 to do so.
Anyway, when at the doctor for a seagoing medical a few weeks ago I specifically asked about ML5's. He contacted the MCA and they said that it wasn't an outright NO but depending on circumstances it may be passed, possibly with some restrictions to area or distance. I have been encouraged to apply, fail, then appeal the decision to see what may be decided.
I may have some advantages in that I am a recreational diver and work at sea already sometimes but will see what transpires over the next few months as I get around to it.
Basically there is no definitive answer yet. BTW I don't like being called disabled, Diabetes is not a disability but a medical condition

[Jon Brooks]

BTW I don't like being called disabled, Diabetes is not a disability but a medical condition

Spot on!!

Regards