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Visa Medical

LouiseBerlin46146

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 October 2011 - 22:24

Hi everyone, I'm new to Dubai and hope you can help me!
My husband is sponsoring me and I've got to the stage where I now have to go for the dreaded medical. I was wondering if anyone knows a decent clinic to go to as he went to a place in Sharjah where he was in a shared room and had to queue up. I'm really squeamish about needles so want to go to somewhere nice with a private room. I've heard about a place in Al Safa- anyone know if this is any good?

Thanks!

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LouiseBerlin46146

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 22:04

Thanks for all your help ladies! I did faint but the doc was so lovely, he reassured me and let my hubby come in the room. Id definitely recommend the al safa to other expats- such a professional, clean clinic. Oh yeah and there was no bruise but he done it in my right arm which i found unusual!

2958

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 00:15

I'm not great with blood tests and often pass out (I know how embarrassing). I tell them in advance that I am niot great and they have always don the blood test away from the other people having their blood test and made me lie down. So, if I were you I would let them know in advance that you are not good with needles.

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 October 2011 - 19:21

thanks Taffyduck, I'll haul myself out of bed and go to Safa tomorrow then! I'll try not to rile the doc too much then so he doesn't bruise me! Anything's better than making a separate journey to the typing centre.... It was a pregnant nurse who did me there last week and she didn't bruise me ( and I am on aspirin).

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 28 October 2011 - 19:21

For newcomers - there is no need to go back and collect the result. They SMS you that it is now in the system so you just go straight to Immigration. VIP is 2 hours results.

65

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2011 - 12:52

Hello ladies, I went last week for my Medical for my Visa. I went to Al Safa Community Health Centre, here is the link: http://www.visaprocess.ae/details.php?page=medical_service I went to th 'VIP section' and was seen very quickly (the Typing centre was there too). Cost me 760 AED, got there about 8.30am, was done by 8.50am! They send you a text to let you know when you blood sample is back - its within 4 hours. I went back at 1pm to collect! Was not stressful, which I was worried about, thats why I went here, as it offered the 'VIP' service! You do feel like 'cattle', one in, one out, but they were very organied. The room where they did the blood test was small and there were people waiting there, but there was a 'curtain' around the area where the nurse actaully took your blood. They were very gentle, only had a tiny bruise.

LouiseBerlin46146

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2011 - 11:57

thanks Taffyduck, I'll haul myself out of bed and go to Safa tomorrow then! I'll try not to rile the doc too much then so he doesn't bruise me! Anything's better than making a separate journey to the typing centre....

32

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 28 October 2011 - 07:17

Bruising is not the norm but does seem to vary from doctor to doctor and person to person, I've been with other people to the same clinic at the same time and some have bruised and others haven't. Yes, at both Safa and Al Badaa you can just walk in, no appointment needed. Only Safa has the typing centre in house, for Al Badaa you need to go to a typing centre first. <em>edited by Taffyduck on 28/10/2011</em>

LouiseBerlin46146

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 19:49

all great info, much appreciated. So the clinic has a typing centre- that's good, saves me a job then. If there's horrific lines and heat in Satwa I shan't be going there! Either Safa or Badaa for me then- I'm taking it i can just turn up? Just another question for squeamish old me- my hubby's arm was bruised for 10 days after- is this normal or was the doc doing a rush job do you think?

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 19:06

Don't know anything about Al Badaa - just the horrific lines, heat , people, etc of Satwa.

32

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 18:50

SM not sure if Al Badaa is Satwa or not, however, I've had medicals done at both Safa and Al Badaa and didn't notice any real difference in the service and patient care. True Al Safa does offer the VIP service, for which you pay extra and it does have a typing centre at the clinic which is a bonus, however, it does not offer a private blood taking room which the OP was specifically asking about.

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 07:17

The VIP is a 2hour return on the medical results. The service is MUCH MUCH better at Safa than Satwa - no comparison! :\:

32

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 07:15

It was only recently but I can't remember if the DNRD attached a piece of paper to the pink residence visa paper or not, anyway whatever the DNRD gave me I gave to the typing centre. I also took along copies of mine and my husbands passport and his visa page. I think the basic cost was AED420 but I paid an extra AED100 for 48 hour service, I think you can pay a further AED100 for 24 hour service. No appointment needed but get there early, I arrived around 09:30 and it was fine but I forgot to get my papers typed beforehand, when I got back they had done their 50 (but the lady was very nice and let me do mine as I'd been there earlier).

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 06:47

I think it is 625 dhs for the VIP visa process. Have just had it done. At Safa's VIP section, there were other people in the room so obviously varies from place to place. The regular medical is about 300 - there are a couple of options in this range all tied in to how soon you want your results. ( for those who are new)

2043

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 05:27

I have always been taken into a private consulting room to have my blood taken, this has been the case twice at Cedars Hospital near Jebel Ali Port and then at the government hospital Al Baraha just off the Corniche in Deira. I do pay for the VIP service, it is worth the AED 100 or however much it costs as they lead you through the process from A-Z. (edited for spelling the hospital's name wrong!) <em>edited by Cornish Pixie on 27/10/2011</em>

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 26 October 2011 - 21:21

http://dubai.ae/en/Lists/HowToGuide/DispForm.aspx?ID=44 some guidelines to read..

341

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 26 October 2011 - 20:58

We went to a clinic in Safa - Behind safa park ? do the normal clinics like medcare do this ? not sure .. maybe worth a question - its on Jumeirah Beach Road

LouiseBerlin46146

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 October 2011 - 20:50

thanks for getting back everyone! @debliz- unfortunately I'm not allowed to donate as I have a history of anaemia :( @spongemonkey I'll investigate that tomorrow night then as I'm off to Al Safa park! @Taffyduck- sounds interesting, I'll check them out. I take it you don't have to make an appt? By the way, wonder if you could clarify something re typing centre: two people told me conflicting info in the typing centre. I already have my pink temporary visa plus a white paper with my name n picture on, is this sufficient? Or do I need an additional sheet of paper with some sort of reference to a medical on? Sorry for all the questions, really appreciate your help!

32

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 26 October 2011 - 06:42

I recently went to Al Badaa (sp?) clinic behind Shangri La hotel. You wait outside the room and go in one at a time to have your blood taken. They only do 50 a day so I'd suggest you get there early. Get your papers typed first at a typing centre then go to the clinic. I was in an out within 15 minutes.

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 26 October 2011 - 06:40

oh my god, I will literally be sick if i see anyone's blood being taken and prob pass out (I really need to get over myself). What do you think the likelihood is of loads of people being there when I get mine done? I tried looking for the clinic and drove round the back, but i only saw a kebab shop, carpark and library- is it on the same block as the co-op? It is a huge building with a sign outside saying Safa Community Clinic. Open Google maps. Enter " safa community clinic dubai" and it will show you on a map!

452

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 26 October 2011 - 02:29

Sorry LouiseBerlin - there's every chance that you'll be sitting in a seat in the same room as the person or persons in front of you getting their blood test done. On the other hand, if you can get over this, there is a huge demand for blood donors in the UAE and you could well be able to make a difference to other peoples' lives should you decide to donate blood on a regular basis. This is especially true if you have a rare blood group such as O Rhesus Negative. This blood type is seen as a universal donor - it pretty much means that anybody can use the whole blood or plasma from this blood type whereas the donor is only able to receive O Rhesus Negative blood should they need it.

LouiseBerlin46146

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 October 2011 - 23:15

oh my god, I will literally be sick if i see anyone's blood being taken and prob pass out (I really need to get over myself). What do you think the likelihood is of loads of people being there when I get mine done? I tried looking for the clinic and drove round the back, but i only saw a kebab shop, carpark and library- is it on the same block as the co-op?

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 25 October 2011 - 23:05

Go to the Safa Clinic behind the Union Coop at Safa Park. There is a VIP Clinic there. However it is still not private!! You stand in the room with other people queuing and looking at you while you get blood taken! In and out in 10 minutes max. You pay a bit more for the VIP service as you get results in 2 hours as well.

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