laumk7 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I had a Dr's appointment this morning about my health and wellbeing, and to cut a long story short I've been advised not to drive until my health stabilises. I've given my keys to my husband and let him drive the car as he's already named on the insurance, and I've made arrangements re my daughters school - goodness knows how I'm going to get to and from work mind you seeing as I work nights. Is there anyone else I should tell or would the Dr have already done that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONDEO TXS 2.2 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 It maybe wise to advise your insurance company & employer & the DVLA as Doctors have an ethic of patient confidentiality 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMX Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Everything Mark said :) And get well soon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONDEO TXS 2.2 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Further to my initial advice , I would also advise seeking your Doctor's confirmation that, when you feel better, you are safe to drive, before you do so. Get well soon. :) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney871 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 You are required by law to inform DVLA of any health issue that affects your driving. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laumk7 Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Thanks all I've requested another urgent appointment with the GP (i wont be driving) to clarify matters then I'll be on the phone to the dvla asap 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmurray01 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 As others have said - insurance and DVLA. I hope things improve for you soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianb Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 I'm not sure whether what Clive said is very close to the actual wording, but; hear me out guys, if you're taking the choice not to drive, then surely it won't affect your driving.... So, if the doc gives you the all clear in a month or a week or whatever then there is no fuss... My wife's a named driver on my policy and she never drives, wouldn't it be an exercise in paper pushing to inform the DVLA or insurance if she never drove anyway? :/ My 2 cents... You are required by law to inform DVLA of any health issue that affects your driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianb Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 P.s, sorry to hear about your health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turvey Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 AFAIK, and I speak from personal experience, it depends on your condition as to whether it is DVLA notifiable or not. For instance MS is DVLA notifiable. Have a look here https://www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions and https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving and see whether or not you have to inform the DVLA. Good luck ;-) P.S For what it's worth, if you do need to contact the DVLA they have a Medical Department with it's own number and it's easy to get in contact with them and they are really helpful and pleasant. EDIT: 0300 790 6806 ;-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmurray01 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 AFAIK, and I speak from personal experience, it depends on your condition as to whether it is DVLA notifiable or not. For instance MS is DVLA notifiable. Have a look here https://www.gov.uk/driving-medical-conditions and https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-and-driving and see whether or not you have to inform the DVLA. Good luck ;-) P.S For what it's worth, if you do need to contact the DVLA they have a Medical Department with it's own number and it's easy to get in contact with them and they are really helpful and pleasant. The DVLA? Helpful and pleasant!? There's a first for everything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turvey Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 The DVLA? Helpful and pleasant!? There's a first for everything. Surprised me as well! ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laumk7 Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 I've been confirm diagnosed with depression, ptsd and anxiety, I also get the shakes sometimes - usually never when driving or walking, but my big mouth said that I get them if I have to hold a pedal for too long; for instance brake, so I refer to the handbrake so I can relax a little, and my big mouth didn't word that properly and so the Dr worried I was handbraking at times other than when I am supposed to be (in a big queue of traffic) I hope that makes sense to you lot? I also had to take another bloodtest whilst I was there as sugar was found in the last test (diabetes?), possibly a cause to the shaking? Edit I've downloaded the form but I'm not under a consultant or hospital I'm defo going to have to seek clarification on this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeebowhite Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Depression and anxiety are normally not something that needs to be advised to my knowledge. I have only partial sight and the DVLA said "thanks for letting us know". I havent yet heard anything of needing to advise the DVLA about "emotional health" (depression specifically) as I had my car accidents, suffered depression and anxiety and at no point was I told I must inform the DVLA. Anyway, I hope you get through it soon, I am currently suffering it to and its a long old haul and its a fight and a half, so I hope you make it through without too many struggles. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney871 Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 My Father-in-Law is technically registered blind (due to a nasty NI troubles related incident) but as it's tunnel vision he is permitted to drive. I sometimes get a shaky left leg due to back related nerve damage, (usually when holding a clutch for extended times and strangely when angry or when adrenaline is up :D ) but still 100% safe to drive. I can understand driving concerns relating to MS/Seizures etc but all cases are assessed on merit and different restrictions calculated from there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmurray01 Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Depression and anxiety are normally not something that needs to be advised to my knowledge. I have only partial sight and the DVLA said "thanks for letting us know". I havent yet heard anything of needing to advise the DVLA about "emotional health" (depression specifically) as I had my car accidents, suffered depression and anxiety and at no point was I told I must inform the DVLA. Anyway, I hope you get through it soon, I am currently suffering it to and its a long old haul and its a fight and a half, so I hope you make it through without too many struggles. I have to disagree there, at least for Scotland. A relative of mine was diagnosed with similar mental health issues and ended up on a 3-year restricted licence for some time and had to stop driving for a short period of time when first reported. It is entirely up to you to report it though, not that I'm advising you shouldn't. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmurray01 Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 I've been confirm diagnosed with depression, ptsd and anxiety, I also get the shakes sometimes - usually never when driving or walking, but my big mouth said that I get them if I have to hold a pedal for too long; for instance brake, so I refer to the handbrake so I can relax a little, and my big mouth didn't word that properly and so the Dr worried I was handbraking at times other than when I am supposed to be (in a big queue of traffic) I hope that makes sense to you lot? I also had to take another bloodtest whilst I was there as sugar was found in the last test (diabetes?), possibly a cause to the shaking? Edit I've downloaded the form but I'm not under a consultant or hospital I'm defo going to have to seek clarification on this... I suffer from similar problems, especially shaking. It went away briefly when I left my last job but has become a daily part of my life again. Like you it wouldn't affect my driving but when anything like that is mentioned to doctors, things are normally taken out of context and extreme actions taken. It is better to be safe than sorry, but some common sense needs to be permitted I think. Hopefully you can get things under control, and if the shaking is diabetes then the sooner they treat it and the shaking stops, the sooner you can get back behind the wheel again. I know it isn't as clean cut as that but "one step at a time". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianb Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 I have to disagree there, at least for Scotland. A relative of mine was diagnosed with similar mental health issues and ended up on a 3-year restricted licence for some time and had to stop driving for a short period of time when first reported. It is entirely up to you to report it though, not that I'm advising you shouldn't. This is precisely my argument for potentially not reporting it. If the quack says "no driving for a month" and you say "booo, ok, I guess you know best, I won't drive for a month", then you phone DVLA and they say "no driving for 3 years"... You're going to rage! An example would be someone who had a driving test, passed, owned a car for a few years, sold it and ten years on they're still walking everywhere.. I doubt they'd bother... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONDEO TXS 2.2 Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 However long the Doctor advises you not to drive . . . just get the all clear from him / her, preferably in writing, before you recommence driving - then you know you are covered from a medical viewpoint & no doubt insurance wise too. When lives are potentially at risk, including your own, it's always best to err on the side of caution i.m.o. The case of that nutter in Glasgow who killed 6 people in his bin lorry when he should not have been driving springs to mind. I am not suggesting in any way that Laurie is dishonest - as he was / is. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianb Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Definitely get the all clear and definitely in writing! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laumk7 Posted December 8, 2015 Author Share Posted December 8, 2015 Well got confirmation, turns out what the first Dr muddied across was if I don't feel safe don't drive, not don't drive at all - I had to get a second opinion from another Dr reading her notes for it all to make sense. He also advised I had no need unless it affects my driving to contact the dvla. I'm personally going to steer clear of the motorway until it all stabilises though as there's imo a difference between the handbrake in heavy traffic and cruise to maintain highish speed 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONDEO TXS 2.2 Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 That's simply commonsense though is it not . . . & that approach should apply to all of us when we feel iffy or groggy or otherwise just not right for whatever reason(s). Driving safely requires 100% concentration & 100% ability, 100% of the time that one is driving. Pleased to hear you got a result Laurie :) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianb Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 That's simply commonsense though is it not . . . & that approach should apply to all of us when we feel iffy or groggy or otherwise just not right for whatever reason(s). Driving safely requires 100% concentration & 100% ability, 100% of the time that one is driving. Pleased to hear you got a result Laurie :) You're talking as if the world isn't full of incapable plebs! As I've heard it said before, I don't think we require a mass extermination of idiots, I just think we need to take warning labels off everything and let nature run its course... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONDEO TXS 2.2 Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Commonsense is not as common as it was, and still should be Ian . . . :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeebowhite Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 As my mother in law states... far too much common, and not enough sense! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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