Pre-Employment Health Checks for EMPLOYERS AND CANDIDATES

A pre-employment health check is a medical assessment carried out before a candidate begins a new role. Employers use it to confirm the new starter is fit for the job's specific demands, identify any health conditions that may need accommodating under the Equality Act 2010, and, in some industries, meet regulatory requirements for fitness to work. The check is carried out by a private doctor and results in a written fitness for work report.

Under the Equality Act 2010, employers generally cannot ask candidates about their health or disability before making a conditional offer of employment. Once an employer makes a conditional offer, health questions and medical assessments are lawful. Use health information gathered at this stage only to assess fitness for the role and identify any reasonable adjustments, not as grounds for discrimination.

Pre-employment health checks do not result in a straightforward pass or fail. If a health condition is identified that could affect your ability to carry out the role, the doctor notes this in the written report alongside any recommended reasonable adjustments. The employer must consider whether those adjustments are possible before taking any further action. Withdrawing a conditional job offer on health grounds without considering adjustments may amount to disability discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

Most pre-employment health checks take between 30 and 60 minutes. The length depends on the scope of the assessment the employer requests and whether additional tests, such as blood tests or audiometry, are required.

Yes. Under UK data protection law, you have the right to access your own health records, including any report prepared following a pre-employment health check. You may request a copy of your records by contacting Private Medical Clinic directly.

No. You do not need a GP referral to attend a pre-employment health check at Private Medical Clinic. Employers can book directly and candidates can self-refer.

Pre-employment health checks are not legally required for most roles in the UK. They are, however, mandatory in certain regulated sectors, including healthcare (where NHS occupational health clearance is required), transport (where DVLA group 2 medical standards apply to HGV and bus drivers), and roles involving specific hazards such as asbestos or ionising radiation. Many employers in safety-critical environments request pre-employment medicals even where they are not strictly required by law.

The assessment typically includes a review of your medical history, a physical examination covering blood pressure, pulse, and BMI, and any role-specific tests the employer requests. These may include vision and colour vision tests, hearing tests (audiometry), lung function tests (spirometry), and blood tests. We provide a written fitness for work report to the employer after the appointment.

If the assessment identifies a condition relevant to the role, your doctor includes it in the written fitness report alongside any recommendations. Depending on the condition and the role, you may be assessed as fit, fit with adjustments, or unfit. Where a significant finding is identified, the doctor will discuss this with you at the appointment.

In most cases, the employer arranges and pays for the pre-employment health check. Candidates are not usually expected to meet the cost. Employers can book directly through Private Medical Clinic and be invoiced following the appointment. Self-pay bookings are also accepted.

A pre-employment health check is carried out before a new starter begins a role and focuses on fitness to take up employment. An occupational health assessment is typically carried out during employment to address a specific health concern, advise on fitness to return to work, or provide management guidance on reasonable adjustments. Both types of assessment are available at Private Medical Clinic.

In most cases, we provide the written fitness-for-work report to the employer within 24 to 48 hours of the appointment.