Driving and the DVLA

[Richard]

I was diagnosed with OSA and left hospital in December 2005. I was advised by the consultant that I was required to write to the DVLA and enclose the details of my GP and the diagnosing hospital and tell them (the DVLA) that I had OSA, but it was being addressed.

I was asked to send them my driving-licence. I must say, it took several months before I had my licence returned. May, 2006, in fact.

The reason for the delay, as it was told to me,was that all medical cases are assessed by a specialist panel of medical professionals appointed by the DVLA. This panel meets every month, and if there is not a quorum of medics, then the meeting, and its potential decisions, are held over for the next meeting, a month away. But once the decision is made, that's the end of it.

[spittree]

First Nite

hi all just to letu all no i picked up my cpap machine up 2day ive only had to wait about 1 month since my sleep test
they said they put me up the list because i drive 4 my job.im en i used 2 ha ha

wen i put the mask on 4 ftting esting i was ok wen i breathed in but breathing out was horribe.the nrse said i just have 2 learn 2 go 2 sleep with my muth closed and i will be fine.anyway will let u all know how i get on 2moz

[huwbob]

Hi Puffin,
I don't know where you live but if you are in the UK I can asure you that you can't claim sickness benefit if you are self employed. The NIC that you pay as a self employed person is towards your old age state pension and the NHS

Provided you have paid Class 2 NIC you are able to make a claim for Incapacity Benefit, ring 0800 88 22 00 and they'll go through it with you

[puffin]

Hi Beth
welcome to the forum, nice to have the input from a OSA professional.

[bethtara]

I've just been diagnosed with S.A. and the Doctor said I had to inform the DVLA. Will the DVLA take my licence away??? I'm really stressing as I need my car for work! Any advice gratefully received!

Hi. I am a Clinical Physiologist working in an NHS Hospital. I have around 9 years experience diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

If you drive for a living and have severe OSA the DVLA may well revoke your licence until your are compliant with CPAP. Compliance is defined as using the CPAP machine for at least 4 hours/night on average. You should also be free from excessive daytime drowsiness.

If you do not drive for a living and/or you have moderate/mild OSA you will probably be deemed as safe to drive, as long as you don't suffer excessive daytime tiredness. It's really quite unpredictable though. It seems to depend on whose desk your case lands on at the DVLA!

[puffin]

I stand corrected, as I have not needed to claim.

[leswaller]

Hi Puffin,
I don't know where you live but if you are in the UK I can asure you that you can't claim sickness benefit if you are self employed. The NIC that you pay as a self employed person is towards your old age state pension and the NHS

[puffin]

I'm self employed, and it is law that you pay your NIC anyway. So you should be able to claim.

[leswaller]

Hi Eddy, The waiting time depends on how much of a priority OSA is for your PCT. You might be able to get your GP to exert some pressure to get your CPAP machine quicker on the basis that you are self employed and if you can't work you don't have any income. Unfortunately unless you have taken out private health insurance you wont get any state benefits such as sick pay. The government takes the stance that if you don't pay it in (National insurance contributions) you cant have anything out

[spittree]

hi all igot my letter in post confiming consultants fears i have sleep apnea.im now on a waiting list in wirral .any 1 no how long this is?doctor said they would try and speed it up because of my job.mmmmmmmmm
also visited my own gp 2day and he ha signed me off from work for 2months.im gutted.also does any1 know if i can get help witth sick pay and rent even though im self employed
regards eddy

[puffin]

Walsall Manor took three months from GP's referal to the machine being issued.

[jan ward]

Hi

I was issued a CPAP machine same day I was diagnosed and told to inform DVLA of the diagnosis and that I was on therapy which I have done. Apparently the DVLA contact the hosp, in my case Leicester General, and all being well by then treatment should be well under way and there should be no problem.

Jan

[James @ Intus]

That's right. We keep a rough 'map' of hotspots throughout the country where things are particularly bad or good. It really is hit and miss and sometimes there's only a few miles between getting no help or being sorted in days.

[leswaller]

James
It varies a lot round the country depending on which Primary Care Trust you are in. I had a GP appointment, a sleep study, and an outpatient appointment from which I came away with a CPAP machine all in the space of 3 weeks.
Some PCTs dont fund the CPAP machines and so regard sleep apnea as a low priority with the consequent delays

[James @ Intus]

That's fortunate and might well have avoided a big ordeal with your driving situation.