The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published updated guidance titled MGN 623 (M+F) Amendment 1: Telemedical advice service (TMAS) for ships at sea, dated 22 October 2026. The document explains how to obtain telemedical advice, the service formerly known as radio medical advice, when a medical incident or medical emergency arises at sea.
The guidance sets out the agency's current approach to remote clinical support for seafarers and shipboard personnel. It is presented as guidance for ships at sea and for those responsible for the welfare of crew, and it replaces the term radio medical advice with telemedical advice to reflect the revised advisory framework.
What the guidance covers
The published summary states the guidance explains how to obtain telemedical advice when a medical incident or medical emergency occurs on board. The text is intended to be used by ships at sea and by maritime duty holders concerned with the management of medical events while vessels are underway.
The amendment is identified by the designation MGN 623 (M+F) Amendment 1 and is issued by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The document's title and date are given as part of the agency's formal publication.
Why the change matters
The guidance formalises the shift in terminology from radio medical advice to telemedical advice, a change reflected in the amendment's title. That change signals the agency's framing of remote medical assistance for ships under the current guidance.
The document's aim, as summarised by the agency, is to describe how seafarers and responsible officers can obtain remote clinical advice when they face medical incidents or emergencies at sea. It is presented as practical guidance rather than statutory regulation.
The publication will be of interest to shipmasters, medical officers, companies operating vessels and others responsible for crew welfare. It provides an official reference point for how the Maritime and Coastguard Agency presents its telemedical advisory arrangements as of the date of release.
Maritime stakeholders should note the date of the amendment, 22 October 2026, when considering the currency of their procedures and training. The agency's guidance is the current source named in the publication for how telemedical advice is to be obtained for ships at sea.
The amendment's concentrated purpose is to direct readers to the steps and considerations that the agency has identified relevant to obtaining telemedical support. The summary emphasises the service's role specifically in response to medical incidents and medical emergencies occurring while vessels are at sea.
Organisations and individuals responsible for safety and welfare on board are likely to refer to the published guidance to align their local procedures with the agency's advice. The document provides a single authoritative reference from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, dated 22 October 2026, on the subject of telemedical advice for seagoing vessels.
Taken together, the amendment clarifies the agency's expectations about how remote medical advice is named and presented. It is positioned as the central guidance to consult for matters relating to obtaining telemedical advice when medical issues arise during voyages.
Readers seeking further detail should consult the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency publication MGN 623 (M+F) Amendment 1: Telemedical advice service (TMAS) for ships at sea, which is the source of the summary published on 22 October 2026.
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