Medical guidelines for applicants

You can apply if you had childhood asthma.

You must provide the results of a Bronchial Provocation Test with your application. You can organise this with your GP.

You may require further treatment if the test is positive for asthma.

You can apply if you are taking medication for asthma.

You must provide a Pre and Post Spirometry report with your application. You can organise this with your specialist or GP.

You will also be required to provide an Asthma Management Plan.

You can apply if you had a childhood fracture or sprain.

Your doctor can provide a report about any minor injuries to help progress your application.

You may have a deformity or impairment of function as a result of your injury. Your assessing doctor can determine if an orthopaedic report is required.

You can apply if you have lower back pain.

You should provide a report from a treating practitioner with your application. This could be from an orthopaedic surgeon or physiotherapist.

Clearance of your medical is not guaranteed.

You can apply if you have had a significant injury.

You must provide a report from your treating specialist with your application. This could be from an Orthopaedic surgeon or physiotherapist.

Clearance of your medical is not guaranteed.

You can apply if you are colour blind.

Please note that the role of a police officer requires you to be able to name and identify the colours of vehicles and clothing.

As there are different types of colour deficiency, each applicant will be evaluated individually.

You may have a colour deficiency identified by your optometrist or ophthalmologist. In this case, a screen based Practical Colour Test may be required during the medical stage of the application process.

You can apply if you wear glasses, but your vision must meet certain minimum standards:

Without glasses or contacts, your vision must be:

• 6/36 in the worse eye
• 6/18 in the better eye.

With glasses or contacts, your vision must be at least:

• 6/9 in either eye, and
• 6/6 when both eyes are used together.

Your glasses must be polycarbonate glasses. You do not need to purchase them until you have received the final Letter of Offer from Recruitment to enter Academy Training.

You can apply if you have undergone laser eye surgery.

Undergoing laser eye surgery is a personal health decision.

Clearance of your medical is not guaranteed.

Other visual impairments can result in your application being found unsuitable.

Considerations are:

• impaired depth perception
• eye suppression
• impaired field of vision.

You cannot apply if you are taking blood thinning tablets.

Examples of such medications are Warfarin and Clexane.

You may apply once you have completed treatment and no longer require this medication.

Aspirin is permitted.

There is no Body Mass Index (BMI) requirement.

There are certain health and fitness considerations for various BMI ranges.

In certain cases, we may require further testing and reports.

There is no minimum or maximum height restriction.

You can apply if you have ADHD.

Please note that ADHD medications are not compatible with the role of a police officer, PCO or PSO.

If you have taken medication in the past, you must show a 12-month medication free period before applying.

You can apply if you have Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.

You cannot apply if you have ever had a colostomy or ileostomy.

You must provide reports from your treating specialist on your condition with your application. This report will be used to determine if you are medically suitable.

You can apply if you have diabetes.

You must provide a report from your treating endocrinologist with your application.

Please note that the role of a police officer and PSO may include not having access to food, water or medications for up to 12 hours at a time.

You will need to demonstrate that your condition is stable and medically well managed.

You can apply if you have epilepsy.

You must provide a report from your treating neurologist with your application.

The report must show:

• your condition is stable
• you have not had a seizure in the last ten years
• details regarding investigations and treatment of your condition.

Your clearance will be conditional on your adherence to your treatment regime.

You can apply if you have a mental health condition.

You must provide a report from your treating GP, psychiatrist and/or psychologist with your application.

In some cases, we may refer applicants for further assessment.

Mental health issues are assessed on an individual basis and clearance of your medical is not guaranteed.

The standard Hep B vaccination schedule usually consists of three injections. It is your responsibility to follow and complete the immunisation schedule.

To prove immunity, you must provide a blood test result showing that your Hep B sAb levels are greater than 10. This test is usually done at least one month after the last scheduled injection.

If you have a low level of immunity, you may require a booster injection followed by another blood test.

You can arrange this with your treating GP.