Drivers Medical Group, (dvla) failings.
Discussion
Mods, hope this is OK on here? After the wider audience really.
Just putting the feelers out. As some may know, (or be bored of hearing about,sorry) I have had my own struggle with the DMG for 2 years now. They revoked my licences after I had been given the all clear to return to driving by my Neuro consultant as I was clear from the head injuries I had received after a bad fall in May 2014. This was in September of 2014 and so began my fight against the DMG/DVLA and what I think are some very outdated and unfair rulings.
It certainly hasn't been easy, and has certainly taken its toll but I've gone on about this on here too many times already so won't bore people again with my specific case.
Based on the recent report though by the PHSO, (Public Health Service Ombudsman) It looks as though there could be many drivers out there, both professional/non professional drivers that could have also suffered at the hands of these idiots at the DMG. The PHSO's report makes for a very interesting read in general, but especially for people that may have been wronged by this group and who may have suffered professionally, financially and personally. The PHSO report clearly shows for all to see the huge failings of the DMG/DVLA and could finally give hope to the likes of myself who have suffered because of their failings.
I know its a long shot but myself and another guy who has set up a FB page are interested to try and find out how many other people have been affected by this?
The problem is we don't know who these other people are who may also have suffered due to the failings of the Drivers Medical Group. I know it's a long shot, but if you yourself or anyone you know of has suffered at the hands of the DMG in relation to "wrongly" having their licence/licences revoked could you please point them in my direction, thanks.
I have started trawling what might be relevant fb groups in relation to this, and will do the same with regards to forums and anything or anywhere else I can think of? If anyone has any ideas on the sort of places I should look please let me know. Mumsnet
After the report went public I contacted the PHSO who have been very helpful in pointing me in the direction I should go with this. I have since wrote to Oliver Morley, (again) the DVLA Chief Exec and again they say they are investigating my complaint. I won't hold my breath. If that fails I still have the Independent Assessor route to go down and the PHSO themselves, so we'll see. I have also contacted my MP again and we are again looking at going down the magazine route to see if there is any interest there? I'm not getting my hopes up when it comes to anything that is DMG/DVLA related, but it is worth another go in light of the PHSO report. If ever there were any good to come out of it, I would like it to benefit as many people as possible who have been affected and suffered due to the DMG and its failings.
This is specific to DMG issues only, not general DVLA stuff, thanks.
Just putting the feelers out. As some may know, (or be bored of hearing about,sorry) I have had my own struggle with the DMG for 2 years now. They revoked my licences after I had been given the all clear to return to driving by my Neuro consultant as I was clear from the head injuries I had received after a bad fall in May 2014. This was in September of 2014 and so began my fight against the DMG/DVLA and what I think are some very outdated and unfair rulings.
It certainly hasn't been easy, and has certainly taken its toll but I've gone on about this on here too many times already so won't bore people again with my specific case.
Based on the recent report though by the PHSO, (Public Health Service Ombudsman) It looks as though there could be many drivers out there, both professional/non professional drivers that could have also suffered at the hands of these idiots at the DMG. The PHSO's report makes for a very interesting read in general, but especially for people that may have been wronged by this group and who may have suffered professionally, financially and personally. The PHSO report clearly shows for all to see the huge failings of the DMG/DVLA and could finally give hope to the likes of myself who have suffered because of their failings.
I know its a long shot but myself and another guy who has set up a FB page are interested to try and find out how many other people have been affected by this?
The problem is we don't know who these other people are who may also have suffered due to the failings of the Drivers Medical Group. I know it's a long shot, but if you yourself or anyone you know of has suffered at the hands of the DMG in relation to "wrongly" having their licence/licences revoked could you please point them in my direction, thanks.
I have started trawling what might be relevant fb groups in relation to this, and will do the same with regards to forums and anything or anywhere else I can think of? If anyone has any ideas on the sort of places I should look please let me know. Mumsnet
After the report went public I contacted the PHSO who have been very helpful in pointing me in the direction I should go with this. I have since wrote to Oliver Morley, (again) the DVLA Chief Exec and again they say they are investigating my complaint. I won't hold my breath. If that fails I still have the Independent Assessor route to go down and the PHSO themselves, so we'll see. I have also contacted my MP again and we are again looking at going down the magazine route to see if there is any interest there? I'm not getting my hopes up when it comes to anything that is DMG/DVLA related, but it is worth another go in light of the PHSO report. If ever there were any good to come out of it, I would like it to benefit as many people as possible who have been affected and suffered due to the DMG and its failings.
This is specific to DMG issues only, not general DVLA stuff, thanks.
DocJock said:
Could you provide a link to the FB page please.
I'll publicise it on a couple of car-related sites.
www.facebook.com/D2DAction/I'll publicise it on a couple of car-related sites.
Here you go and thanks
It is very much in its early days but got to start somewhere.truck71, thanks and done.
https://www.facebook.com/D2DAction/?fref=ts
Sorry, should link now?
Edited by chilistrucker on Saturday 5th November 15:58
I don't do facebook but, just to add a couple of examples, my son fell foul of these clowns twice for a non problem that we were stupid enough to mention on his licence application, just to cover him, as we didn't know how they interpreted "serious".
Big mistake, and a long road of arguments and delays ensued.
Second case is a customer who was cleared to drive by her consultant after a cataract operation, but didn't get her licence back for six months, after the DVLA said a consultant's word wasn't good enough. They wanted corroboration by her GP(!), told the GP they didn't have a record for her, sorted that, got clearance from the GP, then said that wasn't good enough, they needed clearance from the consultant...
They'd do better if they brought sheep down from the hills to run that department.
Big mistake, and a long road of arguments and delays ensued.
Second case is a customer who was cleared to drive by her consultant after a cataract operation, but didn't get her licence back for six months, after the DVLA said a consultant's word wasn't good enough. They wanted corroboration by her GP(!), told the GP they didn't have a record for her, sorted that, got clearance from the GP, then said that wasn't good enough, they needed clearance from the consultant...
They'd do better if they brought sheep down from the hills to run that department.
mybrainhurts said:
I don't do facebook but, just to add a couple of examples, my son fell foul of these clowns twice for a non problem that we were stupid enough to mention on his licence application, just to cover him, as we didn't know how they interpreted "serious".
Big mistake, and a long road of arguments and delays ensued.
Second case is a customer who was cleared to drive by her consultant after a cataract operation, but didn't get her licence back for six months, after the DVLA said a consultant's word wasn't good enough. They wanted corroboration by her GP(!), told the GP they didn't have a record for her, sorted that, got clearance from the GP, then said that wasn't good enough, they needed clearance from the consultant...
They'd do better if they brought sheep down from the hills to run that department.
This is exactly the sort of case we are after, thanks for the post.Big mistake, and a long road of arguments and delays ensued.
Second case is a customer who was cleared to drive by her consultant after a cataract operation, but didn't get her licence back for six months, after the DVLA said a consultant's word wasn't good enough. They wanted corroboration by her GP(!), told the GP they didn't have a record for her, sorted that, got clearance from the GP, then said that wasn't good enough, they needed clearance from the consultant...
They'd do better if they brought sheep down from the hills to run that department.
It's almost an exact replica of my scenario. My consultant cleared me of all my injuries. 2 weeks later the letter dropped through the door from the DMG saying they disagreed with my consultant and were revoking my licences again???
This was bad enough on its own.
I phoned them and asked to speak to the doctors at DMG. I was told I was not allowed to speak to the doctors there, only my consultant or GP could. I was also told I could not contact them by email, I could only contact them by postal letter. WTF?
Every single letter I wrote to the DMG had a 4 week turn around time before I received a reply??? That's 4 more weeks I couldn't work, not that the DMG cared in the slightest. My consultant did contact them again for me, (even though he'd signed me off) but they point blank refused to listen to him. Months were passing by, and they then said they would only listen to the opinion of my GP???
He was as surprised as every one else as we all couldn't understand why they would take the opinion of my GP over that of a neuro specialist? I finally got my GP to contact them. This at the DMG's specific instruction could only happen on a specific day, at a specific time slot, with a specific reference number. This all had a 1 hour window on it??? The GP phoned them as instructed to meet all of these requirements. The DMG responded with, "I'm sorry we have no case file for your patient MR Stafford." My GP phoned me to tell me this. You can imagine my amazement. I then had to phone the DMG helpline yet again and explain the whole sorry scenario yet again and ask what the hell was going on? Luckily the phone operators there have been very understanding and asked for my name, reference number etc. They entered these details and said my case came up instantly on the screen. Even they couldn't understand what the DMG doctors were talking about?
They then said get your GP to phone again, but quickly before that reference number expires otherwise you need to apply for a new one and this could take weeks, (I kid you not!!!!!)
I immediately phoned the GP, who took some persuading as he keeps telling me he is such a busy man and this takes up a lot of his valuable time, (ah bless, excuse me why my life continually goes down the pan!) He did phone them again, and answered their questions only to be told by the DMG that they would no longer act on the evidence of my GP they would only take the opinion of a specialist consultant in this field.
Funny as that's exactly what they'd ignored months earlier. You just couldn't make this s
t up, it defies belief.Sorry for the long winded post but I think it pays to show just how monumentally bad the idiots at the DMG have been.
I gave up telling people my story as it just seems far to unbelievable, it still does.
But now the PHSO report is out, there may just be a chance of justice for those who have been wronged, and its those people I would desperately like to track down.
The 2 stories you mention are exactly what we need people to post on the FB page it would be a big help. The more people see, hopefully the more that will encourage others to do the same and hopefully then word will start to spread.
Myself and the other guy are probably no good just on our own. We are just after justice for everyone who has suffered, we just have to find them
HATE, is a strong word, but when your life and career has been destroyed by such a bunch of inept, useless and out of date individuals, its the word I use. I HATE them with a passion and think heads should roll for this, where appropriate. I mean that all the way to the top of the DVLA and in my opinion its useless Chief Exec. You only have to read his response to the PHSO report to see how he would quite like to brush this all under the carpet.
I fully expect that many will feel we are wasting our time at pursuing this and will achieve nothing.
Maybe.
But what do we have we to lose, when they have already taken it all away from us.
Neither of my subjects do facebook, so can't help there, sorry.
Ref the 4 week reply thing...they told me it takes them 2 weeks to open the post, then a further 2 weeks to scan it, then somebody looks at the scan.
If these people were in business they'd have gone bust long ago.
I get the feeling they're being hyper cautious to cover their own backs.
Or maybe they have to have all correspondence translated into Welsh and read it between sheep shagging sessions...
Ref the 4 week reply thing...they told me it takes them 2 weeks to open the post, then a further 2 weeks to scan it, then somebody looks at the scan.
If these people were in business they'd have gone bust long ago.
I get the feeling they're being hyper cautious to cover their own backs.
Or maybe they have to have all correspondence translated into Welsh and read it between sheep shagging sessions...
I was contacted by the DVLA complaints department today, and told by the guy investigating my complaint that he is meeting with their Senior Medical Advisor next week to discuss and review my case after which he will provide me with a detailed reply to the points I have raised.
Hmmmmmmmmm. I certainly won't be holding my breath on a positive outcome, but will be interested in their response in light of the recent PHSO report.
I can then pass their response on to the Truck magazine that contacted me earlier in the week, as they are running a story on the whole farce that is the DMG.
Hmmmmmmmmm. I certainly won't be holding my breath on a positive outcome, but will be interested in their response in light of the recent PHSO report.
I can then pass their response on to the Truck magazine that contacted me earlier in the week, as they are running a story on the whole farce that is the DMG.
6 months on and this has gone virtually no where thus far. It took them 5 months to actually finally contact the neuro consultant I was under, this is the same consultant who passed me fit to drive, who they then overruled. They sent him a report to fill out, he replied to them saying he was not prepared to fill out a report on someone he hasn't seen for 2 and a half years and who he had passed fit back then.
Today they emailed me to say they are now requesting sight of a CD imagining of my scan results following my injuries in 2014. On receipt of the CD my case will be sent to one of the DMG'S neurological panel members for their opinion.
I wonder how long that will take?
3 fking years now, I despair.
Today they emailed me to say they are now requesting sight of a CD imagining of my scan results following my injuries in 2014. On receipt of the CD my case will be sent to one of the DMG'S neurological panel members for their opinion.
I wonder how long that will take?
3 f
king years now, I despair.Chilistrucker, how goes it? Do you have your licence back yet?
I was very interested - and dismayed - to read of your experience with the DMG. In May this year I had a semi-faint (a ‘near loss of consciousness’) while sitting down to a late breakfast, the upshot of which was a series of cardiac investigations which found nothing wrong; the cause was put down to overmedication for an existing high blood pressure condition. Easily sorted so far; both my GP and the cardiac consultant were agreed that I was fit to drive and by the end of July the consultant’s positive summary and my test results had been sent to DMG. I’d completed the statutory 28 day ban and was driving again.
Then on August 8th DMG wrote to tell me that I didn’t meet medical standards to drive and they had revoked my licence. I live and work alone on an isolated farm. Driving is your main occupation (....was?), I’m not a ‘vocational driver’ but my occupation does depend on being able to drive; you can’t run a farm without it.
So I’ve just begun what will evidently be a long and painful saga. They have expert medical opinion and data and my licence re-application forms but don’t seem to be making any progress with my case. My first two phone calls to them in late September were mysterious; “Oh yes, some good news here on my screen....” but in two calls after that I was told they saw no signs of any progress either way (the phone operators are helpful and efficient, unlike further up the chain!) I phoned them again early this morning for any news and was told my case hasn’t been resolved yet. A month ago they wrote to me saying they had written to my consultant and ‘expect a reply within six weeks’. I related this to his secretary 30 minutes ago (who was quite miffed and considered six days more realistic) who said that DMG had written on August 17th thanking him for the information - sent on July 26th - and continued “appropriate action has been taken concerning the licensing decision”. That was their last letter to him. Yet in my call this morning they asked (me!) whether my consultant had replied to their letter...well yes guys he did, ten weeks ago and you had written to thank him for it nearly seven weeks ago.....
The longer this goes on the less chance I have of salvaging my business (I have lost all of the customers that I used to deliver to, ie most of them) and my personal life; one can call on the good nature and help of friends and family only so far. And what next? Endless time wasted on letters and phone calls for certain. The highly critical PHS Ombudsman’s report last year doesn’t seem to have improved things, their internal clerical systems are completely hopeless.
It’s right for licences to be revoked immediately when there’s potential risk but when expert opinion and medical data have been provided, cases should be resolved without unnecessary delay, muddle or obstruction. People shouldn’t be messed about like this.
I was very interested - and dismayed - to read of your experience with the DMG. In May this year I had a semi-faint (a ‘near loss of consciousness’) while sitting down to a late breakfast, the upshot of which was a series of cardiac investigations which found nothing wrong; the cause was put down to overmedication for an existing high blood pressure condition. Easily sorted so far; both my GP and the cardiac consultant were agreed that I was fit to drive and by the end of July the consultant’s positive summary and my test results had been sent to DMG. I’d completed the statutory 28 day ban and was driving again.
Then on August 8th DMG wrote to tell me that I didn’t meet medical standards to drive and they had revoked my licence. I live and work alone on an isolated farm. Driving is your main occupation (....was?), I’m not a ‘vocational driver’ but my occupation does depend on being able to drive; you can’t run a farm without it.
So I’ve just begun what will evidently be a long and painful saga. They have expert medical opinion and data and my licence re-application forms but don’t seem to be making any progress with my case. My first two phone calls to them in late September were mysterious; “Oh yes, some good news here on my screen....” but in two calls after that I was told they saw no signs of any progress either way (the phone operators are helpful and efficient, unlike further up the chain!) I phoned them again early this morning for any news and was told my case hasn’t been resolved yet. A month ago they wrote to me saying they had written to my consultant and ‘expect a reply within six weeks’. I related this to his secretary 30 minutes ago (who was quite miffed and considered six days more realistic) who said that DMG had written on August 17th thanking him for the information - sent on July 26th - and continued “appropriate action has been taken concerning the licensing decision”. That was their last letter to him. Yet in my call this morning they asked (me!) whether my consultant had replied to their letter...well yes guys he did, ten weeks ago and you had written to thank him for it nearly seven weeks ago.....
The longer this goes on the less chance I have of salvaging my business (I have lost all of the customers that I used to deliver to, ie most of them) and my personal life; one can call on the good nature and help of friends and family only so far. And what next? Endless time wasted on letters and phone calls for certain. The highly critical PHS Ombudsman’s report last year doesn’t seem to have improved things, their internal clerical systems are completely hopeless.
It’s right for licences to be revoked immediately when there’s potential risk but when expert opinion and medical data have been provided, cases should be resolved without unnecessary delay, muddle or obstruction. People shouldn’t be messed about like this.
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