orr medical

Specialists in Fostering Health

Adoption medical Checklist

Adoption Medical Forms Explained: AH1 and AH2

Understand the CoramBAAF forms used in adoption medical assessments, and which one applies to you.

Start Your Adoption Medical

Trusted by applicants, carers & agencies

  • GP Led
  • UK Coverage
  • Fast Turnaround
Adoption medical forms can be confusing, especially for applicants encountering CoramBAAF's Form AH1 and AH2 for the first time. Knowing which form applies to you, and what each one covers, helps avoid one of the most common causes of delay in the process.
This guide explains what each form is for, what information they cover, and how your completed report is used once it reaches your adoption agency.

Adoption Medicals Guides

What Forms Are Used for an Adoption Medical?

Adoption medicals are completed using two CoramBAAF forms: Form AH1, for new applicants requiring a full initial assessment, and Form AH2, for review assessments after approval (for example, ahead of a further adoption). Both give a structured format for reporting medical information to your adoption agency, ensuring consistency in how health is assessed across different GPs and agencies. You may also see these referred to informally as an adoption medical certificate or adoption physical form; they refer to the same underlying report.


Form AH1: New Applicants

Form AH1 covers a full initial medical assessment: medical history, family medical history, current health, mental wellbeing, lifestyle factors, and a physical examination (height, weight/BMI, blood pressure, urine sample). It's the more detailed of the two forms, reflecting that this is usually a prospective adopter's first formal medical review for the process.


Form AH2: Review Assessments

Form AH2 is used for review assessments once you're already an approved adopter, such as when approaching a further adoption. It focuses on any changes to your health since your original AH1 assessment, rather than repeating the full initial review.


What's Actually on the Form

Both forms follow a similar general structure: your personal and medical history, a summary of your family medical history, details of current medications and treatments, the results of your physical examination, and the GP's own professional opinion on your fitness to adopt. The exact layout is set by CoramBAAF, but this is the information your GP will be working through with you.

Family Medical History on Your Form

As part of either form, you'll usually be asked about your family's medical history: a general picture of any hereditary conditions among close relatives. This is standard practice on adoption medical forms and is used as context alongside your own health, not as a disqualifying factor by itself.


Why the Right Form Matters

Using the wrong form, or an incomplete one, is a common source of delay. Confirming with your adoption agency which form applies to you before booking your appointment helps make sure your assessment and report can be completed without unnecessary back-and-forth.


How Reports Are Reviewed

Once complete, your form 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. Agencies accept reports from qualified GPs provided they follow CoramBAAF guidelines and include all required medical information.


Getting Your Form Completed Without Delay

Because these forms aren't part of standard NHS services, some GP surgeries decline or delay them. A specialist adoption medical provider that completes AH1 and AH2 reports regularly can usually turn a report around within 10 working days, compared with the several-week waits common through a standard GP surgery.

Form AH1 vs Form AH2 at a Glance

Form AH1
New applicants, full initial assessment
Complete medical + family history review
First formal medical step in the process

Form AH2
Approved adopters, review assessment
Focuses on changes since your AH1
Used ahead of a further adoption

Frequently Asked Questions About Adoption Medical Forms

What's the difference between Form AH1 and AH2?

AH1 is for new applicants' full initial assessment, covering your complete medical and family history. AH2 is a shorter review assessment used after approval, focusing on any changes since then.


Do adoption agencies accept private AH1/AH2 reports?

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


Which form do I need?

Your adoption agency will confirm which form applies to your situation: AH1 for a new application, AH2 for a review.


Is an adoption medical certificate the same as Form AH1 or AH2?

Yes, it's an informal name people sometimes use for the same GP report, whether that's Form AH1 for a new application or Form AH2 for a review.


Do I need to complete the form myself?

No, your GP completes and signs the form based on your assessment; you provide the information they need.


Will family medical history be included on my form?

Yes, a general family history of hereditary conditions is a standard section on both forms, used as context alongside your own health rather than a pass/fail criterion.


Book Your Adoption Medical Without Delay

UK map
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.
  • Fast appointments available
  • Prompt report turnaround
  • UK-wide coverage
  • Trusted by applicants and agencies
Learn more about the full adoption medicals process.