The clinical service
- Remote diagnosis & treatment: Our physicians review vital signs, ECGs and clinical images to provide a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan for the Offshore Medics onsite to follow.
- Medication authorisation: Immediate authority to administer Controlled Drugs and Prescription-Only Medicines for pain, infection and acute conditions.
- Patient stabilisation: Step-by-step clinical guidance for managing trauma or cardiac arrest until evacuation is feasible, with escalation into Critical Incident Support where wider psychological or team support is required.
Medevac management
The decision to evacuate is one of the most consequential calls made offshore. Unnecessary evacuations expose patients to transport risks and cost operators tens of thousands. Delayed evacuations put lives at risk. Our physicians take clinical responsibility for that decision, assessing what the patient needs against what can be delivered onsite. These decisions are made within the framework of HSE offshore regulations governing medical care in remote installations.
Clinical independence
Our Topside Physicians are listed on the GMC register and operate with complete clinical independence. Their advice is driven entirely by the patient’s medical needs, not commercial pressure. If a patient can be safely treated onsite, they stay. If they need a hospital, we move them.
FAQs
A senior UK-based clinician with specific experience in remote and emergency medicine. Not a non-clinical call handler.
Generally yes, as the core purpose is medical care provided by registered health professionals.
Yes. We provide First Aider guidance to masters and crew on smaller vessels, guiding them through basic life support and symptom management.
MCL has been delivering 24/7 topside telemedicine from our Aberdeen centre since 1999. Our clinical governance framework is SEQOHS accredited and every consultation is logged, auditable and backed by a named GMC-registered physician.