The Suffolk Fire Experience - Doc 258 Great Yarmouth Fire Station Open Day
Interested in other Suffolk Firefighter tales then check out “The Suffolk Hyde Affair” athttp://thesuffolkhydeaffair.blogspot.com/
Medical at Bury St Edmunds 15th September 1998
Wiggy arrived at Bury St Edmunds Fire Station at approximately 1645 hours. The Brigade Medical Adviser (or quack might be more appropriate) Dr David Deacon and his occupational assistant were still getting themselves organised in the Officers mess at this time.
While they were engaged in this preparatory work Wiggy viewed the Dr Deacons schedule for that evening. He noticed that his name had been scribbled over the top of Firefighter Grant Whitehead whose appointment had been cancelled by Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith to squeeze Wiggy in.
Also now present was Firefighter Keefe. Wiggy probed Firefighter Keefe about the manner of his notice to attend the medical. To which he replied that he had been given 3 weeks notice dating back to 26th August 1998.
Once set up Wiggy was the first in to see Dr Deacon. And from there on it all went downhill.
In the first instance Dr Deacon enquired what Wiggy’s medical complaint, signs and sympton’s were?
In reply Wiggy was unable to help much except that he was here for a full medical and that to avoid wasting further time he asked Dr Deacon to get on to it.
Dr Deacon then said he had been personally contacted by Deputy Chief fire Officer Simon Smith to carry out a medical assessment of Wiggy, who then asked why?
Dr Deacon said Deputy Chief Fire Officer had given him specific medical instructions for the examination. In particular, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith wanted him to assess Wiggy’s fitness for working in the Fire Service environment and a medical opinion as to whether Wiggy’s continued employment in the Fire service was in everybody’s best interests.
Wiggy told Dr Deacon that he had been told to attend for the purpose of a medical examination and asked that Dr Deacon proceed to record his principal physiological functions. Dr Deacon refused and neglected to record Wiggy’s pulse, blood pressure, lung function and every other standard analysis normal to Fire Service medical examinations
Dr Deacon the m went on to invite Wiggy to tell him about the employment tribunal complaint and its background. Wiggy asked where Dr Deacon had heard about that employment tribunal and what business it was of his. To this Dr Deacon said that the details had been given to him during an extended conversation about he had had with Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith earlier in the afternoon. Seems that Deputy Chief fire Officer Simon Smith had taken it upon himself to tell Dr Deacon that such behaviour, the employment tribunal complaint, had a bearing on Wiggy’s medical suitability to continue as a serving member of the Fire Service.
So, the remainder of the 15 minute medical examination comprised Dr Deacon being mainly engaged in a one-way conversation as Wiggy listened to him explaining his dilemma and medical conflict of interest that arose from the medical orders issued to him from his paymaster Deputy Chief fire Officer Simon Smith.
Medical at Bury St Edmunds 15th September 1998
Wiggy arrived at Bury St Edmunds Fire Station at approximately 1645 hours. The Brigade Medical Adviser (or quack might be more appropriate) Dr David Deacon and his occupational assistant were still getting themselves organised in the Officers mess at this time.
While they were engaged in this preparatory work Wiggy viewed the Dr Deacons schedule for that evening. He noticed that his name had been scribbled over the top of Firefighter Grant Whitehead whose appointment had been cancelled by Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith to squeeze Wiggy in.
Also now present was Firefighter Keefe. Wiggy probed Firefighter Keefe about the manner of his notice to attend the medical. To which he replied that he had been given 3 weeks notice dating back to 26th August 1998.
Once set up Wiggy was the first in to see Dr Deacon. And from there on it all went downhill.
In the first instance Dr Deacon enquired what Wiggy’s medical complaint, signs and sympton’s were?
In reply Wiggy was unable to help much except that he was here for a full medical and that to avoid wasting further time he asked Dr Deacon to get on to it.
Dr Deacon then said he had been personally contacted by Deputy Chief fire Officer Simon Smith to carry out a medical assessment of Wiggy, who then asked why?
Dr Deacon said Deputy Chief Fire Officer had given him specific medical instructions for the examination. In particular, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith wanted him to assess Wiggy’s fitness for working in the Fire Service environment and a medical opinion as to whether Wiggy’s continued employment in the Fire service was in everybody’s best interests.
Wiggy told Dr Deacon that he had been told to attend for the purpose of a medical examination and asked that Dr Deacon proceed to record his principal physiological functions. Dr Deacon refused and neglected to record Wiggy’s pulse, blood pressure, lung function and every other standard analysis normal to Fire Service medical examinations
Dr Deacon the m went on to invite Wiggy to tell him about the employment tribunal complaint and its background. Wiggy asked where Dr Deacon had heard about that employment tribunal and what business it was of his. To this Dr Deacon said that the details had been given to him during an extended conversation about he had had with Deputy Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith earlier in the afternoon. Seems that Deputy Chief fire Officer Simon Smith had taken it upon himself to tell Dr Deacon that such behaviour, the employment tribunal complaint, had a bearing on Wiggy’s medical suitability to continue as a serving member of the Fire Service.
So, the remainder of the 15 minute medical examination comprised Dr Deacon being mainly engaged in a one-way conversation as Wiggy listened to him explaining his dilemma and medical conflict of interest that arose from the medical orders issued to him from his paymaster Deputy Chief fire Officer Simon Smith.
posted by Bert Blythburgh at 12:56 AM
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