Thanks for the link Tamesy1. But if one reads the downloadable .pdf section on deviation it states:
ICAO Licence holders
Existing licence holders (i.e., a current valid licence equivalent to the medical certificate for which they are applying e.g. CPL or ATPL for class1, PPL for class 2) from other ICAO states with appropriate demonstrated experience applying for initial issue of a JAA medical certificate will be assessed to the JAA initial standard.
Those who fall outside the initial standard, but within the revalidation standard and subject to satisfactory assessment and appropriate limitations, may be considered for a long-term deviation, which will then be transferred to their JAA licence, when issued.
So to answer my own question, it looks like those with existing ICAO class 1 medicals and industry experience CAN get deviation. Its just for ab initios where its been dumped...
But many thanks for the link, its solved the problem.
