What's wrong with me?!

[E65Ross]

It's tempting to say a lot of things

Will let you know of I hear anything today. I'm not holding my hopes too high at the moment RE getting my licence back before decent 1st but I haven't given up yet!

[E65Ross]

Apparently the DVLA target response date is Tuesday 27th October. Not sure why it'll take that long, maybe they're reassessing their decision. If not.... You'd think they'd just say "no" and be done with it.

Mind you, with these bunch of clowns who knows.

[E65Ross]

crikey said:

Tell your MP that. They tried that trick with me and my MP stepped in with a "that's hardly urgent" call and I got a response within 24 hours.

Unfortunately I've already emailed the MP again saying thanks to her for continuing to help me. If I don't hear back by Thursday evening I'll send another email Friday I reckon, or possibly later Thursday afternoon.

[E65Ross]

I actually got an email from the MP this afternoon just giving me a copy of the letter she got the other day from the DVLA saying I have been cleared to drive from December 1st but I still must wait. She did say this letter is effectively "out of date" in the sense that she's since sent in the information you sent to us as well as those other guidelines I put up here the other day RE infratentorial tumours.

I used that as an excuse to email back asking of she could further press them prior to Tuesday, and that they aren't giving a valid reason as to why I can't drive, and that this 12 months is a guideline rather than a rule and they should listen to the actual professionals (ie Vas!) who say I'm fit to drive.

The amount of red tape here is mental. I am genuinely interested in seeing about getting this overturned in parliament to try to help others in the future.

[E65Ross]

MrsMiggins said:

DVLA must operate similarly to use by dates on food. "Use by 20th October" means that up to 11:59:59 on 20th Oct you'll be safe; use at 00:00:01 on 21st October and that's instant death and destruction.

It all makes perfect sense.

It's daft isn't it. Still, we shall see if I hear anything tomorrow. To be honest.... It's 6 weeks today until I can DEFINITELY drive. It's not that long in the grand scheme of things but if I can get it back earlier then why not!

[E65Ross]

I had a look at the guidelines the DVLA are quoting and they certainly aren't exactly clear cut.

I had a grade II ependymoma which was a benign infratentorial tumour.

If you look here

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...

On page 22 for grade II infratentorial tumours it states "as for supratentorial tumour".

So scroll up to page 21 and under benign supratentorial tumours (e.g. grade I meningioma" it states 6 months off driving. Yet it states for grade II meningioma that there is 1 year off driving.

However....it is very specific about grade II meningioma, it does not say "grade II (e.g. meningioma)" it simply says "grade II meningioma" which I didn't have. I had a benign infratentorial tumour, and under benign supratentorial tumours it says 6 months off driving. How would you interpret that?

Then.... you read here

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/current-medical-guidel...

and it quite clearly states drive upon recovery for benign infratentorial tumours.

Do you think it's worth phoning them? The MP is aware of this and is making contact...should I just leave it with them?

Many thanks

[E65Ross]

I called them and spoke to just about the least helpful person ever. I mentioned about the other guidelines and they ignored it saying the guidelines state 12 months and if I want to argue I have to get my surgeon to discuss with the Dr's why I'm fit to drive now. I told them that had happened and they said my surgeon can try again if I want. They then said if I want to upturn it I should complain to the Secretary of State.

Absolute jobsworth! Let's hope the MP has some luck, but I'm very doubtful. They enquired about your case as of Friday, crikey, and haven't heard back RE that yet.... Apparently it may be next Tuesday but I've asked to see if the MP can press them to bring that forward.

My 745i is taunting me every time I walk past it on the driveway!

[E65Ross]

Crikey and Rolando - I've just emailed that address with the ins and outs. I mentioned you crikey and said you'd likely be in touch soon.

Cheers!

[E65Ross]

Emails should be sent to here instead

[e-mail]

Many thanks!

[E65Ross]

To be fair once I emailed the other address I immediately got an automated reply saying if it's secretary of state business then I should email the other address.

Thanks ks for supplying that. I genuinely don't think DVLA will back down but hopefully the MP will be able to swing it. We shall see soon enough!

[E65Ross]

crikey said:

Thanks Rolando, I'll be dropping him a line later

[E65Ross]

Still not heard back from the MP or Secretary of State yet so looking unlikely to hear anything for the weekend.

MP did say DVLA aim to reply for 27th (Tuesday) so if I don't hear anything before I'll email Tuesday morning. Looking somewhat doubtful that I get it back earlier than December 1st but I should soon find out. I don't think people can argue I haven't tried!

[E65Ross]

crikey said:

Don't wait, email at least once a day. At the moment the DVLA are achieving their objective in dragging it out until Dec.

I'll email the MP again either tomorrow or Monday morning. They're going to be sick to death of me

Thanks mate. Interesting week coming up....I think I'll either be driving before the week is over or not until December. Whilst it's daft having to wait, I always said if I was driving before Xmas I'd be happy, and that will definitely be happening

I have a scanned copy of the letter from the DVLA to my MP which says my licence has been granted but I have to wait until December which I'll print and keep in the car if my licence doesn't arrive before then. That letter is kind of "out of date" as they are looking into my case further, thanks to the info you sent in and also we sent in those "other" guidelines which say "drive on recovery" for benign infratentorial tumours.

[E65Ross]

Just sent the MP another email. Will see if I get a response tomorrow or not!

[E65Ross]

Still not heard anything. Will ping them yet another email either tomorrow afternoon or 1st thing Thursday.

[E65Ross]

crikey said:

No news ?

Nope.

Although I got a letter from the Secretary of State and it was a joke.....it said that we can't compare my case to yours as every case is judged independantly......then the next sentence says that they all follow the guidelines which state 12 months off driving. Bit contradictory there, no?!

Absolute joke. I'll email the MP again over the weekend.

Ross

[E65Ross]

Emailed the MP again and got an instant "out of office" reply until Tuesday, so guessing she's on holiday or whatever.

Almost given up hope on getting it back early now, but will see what the MP can come up with.

[E65Ross]

crikey said:

I rang about mine this morning, they issued a 3 year license at the weekend. After 3 years it's reviewed again and if all's ok they'll issue a permanent one. At least the license is dated from 1st November rather than May when I sent the forms in !

Today is the 2 year anniversary of my op, I had a look on Facebook to see what my last post was before it, "Here we go". So profound

Happy 2 year "tumourversary" Can't believe my 1 year is coming up so soon, 4 weeks yesterday. I've still not heard from the MP but hopefully will today....she was back in the office yesterday apparently.

Still, it really isn't long to wait now

[E65Ross]

Well, dare I say, my 12 months anniversary of this is nearly upon me, and it's not that far from Christmas and I was thinking of doing the following....

Going onto moonpig and getting personalised cards for both Vas and Mr Grundy, with a picture of me in ICU and another very recent photo with me (and perhaps my close family) looking happy etc and a message in there basically saying a big thanks for helping me and my family.

Or is that a bit..... Odd?

I was also tempted to go to Marks and Spencers or somewhere and getting a nice selection of chocolates, biscuits etc and taking them to the wards I was in and giving them to the nurses there. I know full well several will remember me and I think it'd be a nice gesture to show them they're appreciated, especially around Xmas.

Thoughts on those ideas? On one hand people may say "move on with your life" but on the other I don't think it hurts to show gratitude to those who really deserve it.!

DVLA won't be on my Xmas card list, mind!

[E65Ross]

funkyrobot said:

How about a picture of one of the x-rays showing the tumour, then a picture of you at full health and happiness? I don't think an ICU picture goes well on the shelf.

Good call!