Any GPs on here?
Discussion
Just wondering?
Driving licence related. My lorry licence is currently revoked after the head injuries I sustained in May last year. 2 fractures on my skull and 3 bleeds on my brain. Miraculously the bleeds had all cleared 4 months later and my neuro consultant said I was fit to return to driving both cars and lorries in his opinion. The dvla overruled him.
I now have my 2nd attempt with my GP coming up soon to get my lorry licence back.
When I tried before the dvla stated that because of the injuries sustained I was a 2% risk of having a seizure.
Note, never to this day had a seizure in my life!!!!!
Dvla stated that they wanted to hear from my GP, that he could prove 100% that I was less than the 2% risk of seizure.
He told them he couldn't 100% say this for any of his patients. They said they were only interested in my case and so upheld the ban on my licence.
As 7 months have now gone by since my last attempt, I phoned the dvla medical board again, and they are still stating that without a medical letter from my GP they won't give me my lorry licence back.
So if I walked into your GP surgery regarding this issue, what would you do???
Like I said, I have never in my life had any form of seizure, but due to the injuries sustained the dvla have just pigeon holed me into a standard box.
Am I doomed to never getting my lorry licence back, as I've just been offered a very nice job possibly, if I can get said licence back.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
Driving licence related. My lorry licence is currently revoked after the head injuries I sustained in May last year. 2 fractures on my skull and 3 bleeds on my brain. Miraculously the bleeds had all cleared 4 months later and my neuro consultant said I was fit to return to driving both cars and lorries in his opinion. The dvla overruled him.
I now have my 2nd attempt with my GP coming up soon to get my lorry licence back.
When I tried before the dvla stated that because of the injuries sustained I was a 2% risk of having a seizure.
Note, never to this day had a seizure in my life!!!!!
Dvla stated that they wanted to hear from my GP, that he could prove 100% that I was less than the 2% risk of seizure.
He told them he couldn't 100% say this for any of his patients. They said they were only interested in my case and so upheld the ban on my licence.
As 7 months have now gone by since my last attempt, I phoned the dvla medical board again, and they are still stating that without a medical letter from my GP they won't give me my lorry licence back.
So if I walked into your GP surgery regarding this issue, what would you do???
Like I said, I have never in my life had any form of seizure, but due to the injuries sustained the dvla have just pigeon holed me into a standard box.
Am I doomed to never getting my lorry licence back, as I've just been offered a very nice job possibly, if I can get said licence back.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
I'm not a GP. There is zero chance a GP will write a letter saying anything is 100%
Your neurosurgeon might be better placed to judge this risk, but again a letter saying something is 100% seems unlikely.
I think asking the neurosurgeon to liaise with the DVLA might be the best use of resources, but I'm no GP.
Your neurosurgeon might be better placed to judge this risk, but again a letter saying something is 100% seems unlikely.
I think asking the neurosurgeon to liaise with the DVLA might be the best use of resources, but I'm no GP.
Thanks. My thoughts exactly, and without that letter the dvla medical board refuse to look into my case any further.
My neuro consultant wrote to them twice in my favour, they choose to ignore his opinion and will only act on a letter from my GP?????
I'm allowed to drive a car and trailer, and did for a bit, a Lwb defender with a 3 axle Lwb trailer grossing at 6 tonnes and approx 35-40 ft in length. This on normal brakes, yet I cannot drive a 7 and a half tonne truck, shorter in length with air brakes??? I'd love to know if I had a legal argument, but couldn't afford the costs even if I did!
Rock and a hard place!
My neuro consultant wrote to them twice in my favour, they choose to ignore his opinion and will only act on a letter from my GP?????
I'm allowed to drive a car and trailer, and did for a bit, a Lwb defender with a 3 axle Lwb trailer grossing at 6 tonnes and approx 35-40 ft in length. This on normal brakes, yet I cannot drive a 7 and a half tonne truck, shorter in length with air brakes??? I'd love to know if I had a legal argument, but couldn't afford the costs even if I did!
Rock and a hard place!
chilistrucker said:
Thanks. My thoughts exactly, and without that letter the dvla medical board refuse to look into my case any further.
My neuro consultant wrote to them twice in my favour, they choose to ignore his opinion and will only act on a letter from my GP?????
I'm allowed to drive a car and trailer, and did for a bit, a Lwb defender with a 3 axle Lwb trailer grossing at 6 tonnes and approx 35-40 ft in length. This on normal brakes, yet I cannot drive a 7 and a half tonne truck, shorter in length with air brakes??? I'd love to know if I had a legal argument, but couldn't afford the costs even if I did!
Rock and a hard place!
B+E is still a group 1 licence ... My neuro consultant wrote to them twice in my favour, they choose to ignore his opinion and will only act on a letter from my GP?????
I'm allowed to drive a car and trailer, and did for a bit, a Lwb defender with a 3 axle Lwb trailer grossing at 6 tonnes and approx 35-40 ft in length. This on normal brakes, yet I cannot drive a 7 and a half tonne truck, shorter in length with air brakes??? I'd love to know if I had a legal argument, but couldn't afford the costs even if I did!
Rock and a hard place!
the DVLA want GP letters becasue generally GPs have a better knowledge of an individuals health than their consultant ...
To whom it may concern,
"....in my opinion I can confirm that Mr X falls well within the 2% chance of recurrence risk demographic."
Sex Panther - works 60% of the time......every time.
WIth a bit of clever wording I'm sure a sensible GP can get the DVLA onside. Just don't pass out and kill loads of people eh?
"....in my opinion I can confirm that Mr X falls well within the 2% chance of recurrence risk demographic."
Sex Panther - works 60% of the time......every time.
WIth a bit of clever wording I'm sure a sensible GP can get the DVLA onside. Just don't pass out and kill loads of people eh?
mph1977 said:
chilistrucker said:
Thanks. My thoughts exactly, and without that letter the dvla medical board refuse to look into my case any further.
My neuro consultant wrote to them twice in my favour, they choose to ignore his opinion and will only act on a letter from my GP?????
I'm allowed to drive a car and trailer, and did for a bit, a Lwb defender with a 3 axle Lwb trailer grossing at 6 tonnes and approx 35-40 ft in length. This on normal brakes, yet I cannot drive a 7 and a half tonne truck, shorter in length with air brakes??? I'd love to know if I had a legal argument, but couldn't afford the costs even if I did!
Rock and a hard place!
B+E is still a group 1 licence ... My neuro consultant wrote to them twice in my favour, they choose to ignore his opinion and will only act on a letter from my GP?????
I'm allowed to drive a car and trailer, and did for a bit, a Lwb defender with a 3 axle Lwb trailer grossing at 6 tonnes and approx 35-40 ft in length. This on normal brakes, yet I cannot drive a 7 and a half tonne truck, shorter in length with air brakes??? I'd love to know if I had a legal argument, but couldn't afford the costs even if I did!
Rock and a hard place!
the DVLA want GP letters becasue generally GPs have a better knowledge of an individuals health than their consultant ...
from what we can see of the facts here, it seems bizarre to default to the GP report over the consultant when the pathology is so localised (to the brain). I suspect the DVLA board are non-negotiable though and they have to think about bin-lorry drivers now...
The GP to write a letter effectively agreeing with whatever the neuro consultant wrote :
To whoever it may concern
Please see attached consultant letter....I agree......kind of thing.....
Seems crazy to me that a GP would be deemed best placed to pass judgement on a specific issue that he likely referred to a consultant for detailed opinion in the 1st place ?
Good luck.
To whoever it may concern
Please see attached consultant letter....I agree......kind of thing.....
Seems crazy to me that a GP would be deemed best placed to pass judgement on a specific issue that he likely referred to a consultant for detailed opinion in the 1st place ?
Good luck.
Thanks all for the replies.
As mentioned I think the bin lorry incident in Glasgow plays a big part in the way the dvla currently view things. It was a terrible tradgedy. The driver in question lied which is a disgrace.
I will really put my point across to the GP, based on my medical history and the opinion of the consultant and see what they say to see if they could write a letter similar to those suggested above?
I hope so, as without it I'll never get my lorry licences back which will be very hard for me to take. It's all I know.
As mentioned I think the bin lorry incident in Glasgow plays a big part in the way the dvla currently view things. It was a terrible tradgedy. The driver in question lied which is a disgrace.
I will really put my point across to the GP, based on my medical history and the opinion of the consultant and see what they say to see if they could write a letter similar to those suggested above?
I hope so, as without it I'll never get my lorry licences back which will be very hard for me to take. It's all I know.
We live in an increasingly litigious society and if I were a GP I wouldn't want put my career on the line by signing a letter like this. No medical professional can put a % on the level of risk and it is completely unreasonable for the DVLA to expect them to do so.
I hope you get this sorted, the situation seems totally ridiculous. Clearly a GP is not an expert on head injuries either, so surely their opinion is not even as valuable as what the consultant as stated already.
I hope you get this sorted, the situation seems totally ridiculous. Clearly a GP is not an expert on head injuries either, so surely their opinion is not even as valuable as what the consultant as stated already.
Are you a member of a union?
If so, seek their advice.
I would be approaching this from a legal point of view.
The GP letter thing makes no sense. If the consultant neurologist's opinion won't convince the medical board then I can't see how any doctor can.
PS Although I do see the value of the GP being seen to agree with the neurologist - to whom he/she would regularly defer for opinions on such matters. Still odd though.
If so, seek their advice.
I would be approaching this from a legal point of view.
The GP letter thing makes no sense. If the consultant neurologist's opinion won't convince the medical board then I can't see how any doctor can.
PS Although I do see the value of the GP being seen to agree with the neurologist - to whom he/she would regularly defer for opinions on such matters. Still odd though.
Edited by drmark on Sunday 25th October 20:57
VolvoT5 said:
No medical professional can put a % on the level of risk and it is completely unreasonable for the DVLA to expect them to do so.
Most risks can be statistically quantified. The OP has had X type of injury followed by Y rate of recovery and Z ongoing symptoms. Based on the outcomes of previous X-Y-Z patients, it's likely that his chances of suffering specific types of ongoing complications should be quantifiable.
No professional is going to say that there is zero chance of problems but if they say there is less than 2% chance and he did have a seizure it doesn't mean the doctor was wrong - it just means that the OP was the one in 50 people that it happens to.
Crap situation BTW and I agree that the GP using a detailed letter from the neuro specialist as the basis for his opinion seems like the way to go.
GP here:
This is not something I would feel I could help with as I do not have the necessary expertise. What I would do is ask that the DVLA have consulted their expert correctly.
We think we know what standard the DVLA are judging against (risk of seizure),and it is the job of the DVLA to assess that seeking what information they can (which would be a neurologists/neurosurgeons assessment).
This is not something I would feel I could help with as I do not have the necessary expertise. What I would do is ask that the DVLA have consulted their expert correctly.
We think we know what standard the DVLA are judging against (risk of seizure),and it is the job of the DVLA to assess that seeking what information they can (which would be a neurologists/neurosurgeons assessment).
It is truly ridiculous, my consultant and GP both find it crazy.
Sadly when the accident happened I wasn't in a union.
I would love to go down the legal route with this, but currently not possible.
I specifically asked the dvla who was on their medical panel and who made the decisions on my case, considering my NEURO surgeon had passed me as fit to drive.
The DVLA point blank refused to give me any names, or what their actual qualifications are, in relation to my case. They would only say that their panel of doctors were all highly regarded experts in their fields.
But, what fields are they?
Tbh, I feel I have been treated very, very unfairly. I fought them all the way, but as time went by it seemed to me that the louder you shout, the more they will kick you down, I gave up in the end as it was making me sick.
I will give it another go. Thanks to all for the replies, it is appreciated.
I will chat with my GP to see if they will go down the route of agreeing with the consultants letter etc, and then go from there.
If the DVLA still refuse I will have some interesting questions for them, with reference to last weeks accident in Guildford and the elderly driver.
Sadly when the accident happened I wasn't in a union.
I would love to go down the legal route with this, but currently not possible.
I specifically asked the dvla who was on their medical panel and who made the decisions on my case, considering my NEURO surgeon had passed me as fit to drive.
The DVLA point blank refused to give me any names, or what their actual qualifications are, in relation to my case. They would only say that their panel of doctors were all highly regarded experts in their fields.
But, what fields are they?
Tbh, I feel I have been treated very, very unfairly. I fought them all the way, but as time went by it seemed to me that the louder you shout, the more they will kick you down, I gave up in the end as it was making me sick.
I will give it another go. Thanks to all for the replies, it is appreciated.
I will chat with my GP to see if they will go down the route of agreeing with the consultants letter etc, and then go from there.
If the DVLA still refuse I will have some interesting questions for them, with reference to last weeks accident in Guildford and the elderly driver.
Nothing much to add except the DVLA are a bunch of useless a
holes. I'm getting my licence back soon after having a brain tumour taken out and they've been nothing but utter, utter fkwits.
Maybe get your GP or consultant to write something along the lines of that based on your history they see you at no greater risk of seizure than any other member of public.
Oh, and if they do this...get your local MP involved. It'll likely speed things up a bit, from experience.
holes. I'm getting my licence back soon after having a brain tumour taken out and they've been nothing but utter, utter fkwits.Maybe get your GP or consultant to write something along the lines of that based on your history they see you at no greater risk of seizure than any other member of public.
Oh, and if they do this...get your local MP involved. It'll likely speed things up a bit, from experience.
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