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Adoption medical assessment

Adoption Medical Assessment in the UK: The Complete Guide

Avoid delays and move your adoption application forward with fast, GP-led medical assessments.

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An adoption medical assessment is one of the key steps in the adoption process, forming part of the wider assessment your agency uses to approve your application. Many applicants expect a simple check-up, but it's a more structured GP-led review that plays a real role in how your suitability is assessed.
Understanding what's actually involved, and what your GP is looking for, helps you approach the appointment with confidence rather than uncertainty. This guide covers the process from booking through to your report being submitted to your agency.

Adoption Medicals Guides

foster a child medical assessment

What Is an Adoption Medical Assessment?

An adoption medical assessment, sometimes called an adoption health assessment, is a GP-led health evaluation required as part of the UK adoption process, under the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005. It reviews your physical and mental health to help your adoption agency determine your ability to care for a child long term. It is not a pass or fail test; it provides a professional opinion that forms part of your wider application, alongside your social worker's assessment and home study.

What Happens During the Assessment

The appointment itself usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes. Your GP will review your medical history, mental health, lifestyle factors and any current treatments. A physical examination includes standard checks of height, weight (BMI), blood pressure, and a urine sample, alongside a review of medications and previous surgeries. You'll also usually be asked about your family's medical history, since a general family history of hereditary conditions can be relevant context for the report.
medical assessments for adoption and fostering

Does It Have to Be My Own GP?

No. While you can ask your own GP, adoption medicals are not part of standard NHS services, so many surgeries decline them or treat them as low priority. Prospective adopters commonly use a specialist adoption medical GP instead, precisely to avoid that uncertainty and delay.
adoption services

The Role of the GP Report (CoramBAAF Form AH1/AH2)

Adoption medicals are completed using CoramBAAF Form AH1 for new applicants requiring a full initial assessment, and CoramBAAF Form AH2 for review assessments after approval. These forms give a structured format for reporting medical information to your adoption agency, ensuring consistency in how health is assessed. Many GP surgeries are unfamiliar with these forms or don't prioritise them, which is often the real source of delay, not the assessment itself. (See our dedicated guide to adoption medical forms.)

Adoption Medical vs Fostering Medical: What's Different

The two assessments cover similar ground, a GP-led review of physical and mental health, but they use different CoramBAAF paperwork. Fostering medicals are typically completed on a single Form AH, while adoption medicals use Form AH1 for a new application and Form AH2 for a later review. If you're moving from fostering to adopting, or considering both, it's worth confirming with your agency which form applies at each stage.

How Long an Adoption Medical Assessment Takes

Appointments are typically available within 10 working days once your medical records are ready, and most adoption medical reports are completed and returned within 10 working days of your assessment. This compares well with many NHS GP surgeries, where waiting times can extend several weeks due to appointment backlogs and administrative delays. (See our full guide to adoption medical timescales.)
foster care

Will a Medical Condition Prevent You From Adopting?

Not necessarily. Individuals with stable, well-managed health conditions, such as diabetes or a history of cancer, may still be approved. Existing conditions don't automatically disqualify a person; agencies want to understand the prognosis and its likely impact on parenting, assessed case by case rather than against a fixed list of disqualifying conditions.
adoption process step by step guide

Cost of an Adoption Medical

Orr Medical's adoption medical assessment is £250+VAT, covering the appointment and completed GP report. Costs vary between providers, and some agencies may cover or contribute to the fee; it's worth checking with your agency before booking.
adoption services

How the Report Is Used

Once complete, your report is submitted to your adoption agency and reviewed by a medical adviser as part of your overall approval, before your case goes to the adoption panel. The medical report is one part of a wider assessment that also considers your home environment, support network and social worker's report, so it's never judged in isolation.

Why Applicants Choose Orr Medical

Standard GP
Several weeks delays
GP backlog
Unpredictable reports

Orr Medical
10 day turnaround
Fast booking
Specialist GP-led

Frequently Asked Questions About Adoption Medical Assessments

What is included in an adoption medical assessment?

A full medical history review, discussion of current health and family medical history, a physical examination, and a GP report using CoramBAAF Form AH1 or AH2.


Is an adoption medical difficult to pass?

No, it's not a pass/fail test. The assessment looks at how well any conditions are managed rather than excluding people outright, so most applicants with stable, well-managed conditions are approved.


Do adoption agencies accept private adoption medical reports?

Yes, providing they follow CoramBAAF guidelines and are completed by a qualified GP. Most agencies are familiar with specialist providers and accept their reports without issue.


Can I choose who completes my adoption medical?

Yes, you're not restricted to your own GP. Many applicants use a specialist adoption medical provider instead, particularly if their own surgery declines or delays the assessment.


Does my family medical history affect my application?

It's used as general context alongside your own health, not as a disqualifying factor on its own. Agencies want an overall picture of your health, not a single detail in isolation.


How much does an adoption medical cost?

Orr Medical's adoption medical assessment is £250+VAT, covering the appointment and the completed GP report. Check with your agency, as some contribute towards the cost.


What happens after my medical report is submitted?

It's reviewed by a medical adviser and forms part of your overall application, alongside your social worker's assessment, before going to the adoption panel.


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If you’re ready to complete your adoption medical quickly and keep your application moving, Orr Medical provides fast, professional GP-led assessments across the UK.
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Learn more about the full adoption medicals process.