DVLA refusing to return my revoked licence.

[Virgil1]

Hi everyone. Mine is a fairly long story so I will try to be very brief. I used to be a bus/coach driver a number of years back. As I obviously had a PCV licence it was a requirement to have a medical every 3 years. The DVLA informed me mine was due.

I also suffer from long term depression (and a few other issues) , although this never ever had any impact on any of my driving abilities. In fact, as I loved driving this had an improving effect ( my medical consultant/doctor even told the DVLA this in his 2 letters to them).

Excuse me if I digress a bit back forth.

Anyway, while I was speaking to the DVLA on the phone about the medical I admitted that I had developed an alcohol issue (I have cursed myself ever since for my stupidity in doing this as it has caused me & my family a hell of a lot of trouble & heartache. Whoever coined the phrase "honesty is the best policy" is a liar - certainly in my situation anyway !).

Trying to get my licences back has been one hell of an uphill struggle & battle with the DVLA over the years. Also bearing in mind that I've never been convicted of (or did) any driving offence. In fact I think that I would have been treated better with a conviction.

The DVLA then revoked my PCV licence which also meant that I had to leave my job (and also my charity/voluntary work - one of which was taking disabled children & the care staff on occasional outings, using their bus).

Around 2 months later the DVLA, in their great wisdom, decided to revoke my ordinary licence too. I took them to Court later but as I could not afford legal representation I had to do the best myself against the DVLA legal bods. My consultant/doctor had sent the DVLA 2 letters fully supporting me in getting my licence back and as it would also improve my health as I cherish and love driving (mostly).

My doctor even offered to monitor me to the DVLA as far as the alcohol was concerned. As with everything else, the DVLA ignored/disregarded his letters - and my many letters & phone calls to them.

Anyway, after the passing of years..... I'm now finally going for a medical next week. What concerns me about this is that if this DVLA appointed doctor and I don't see eye to eye then he/she might put in a bad/biased report about me. Also, if the blood test GGT, EDT.. levels are raised (which are not specific) then the DVLA could again make false/wrong assumptions against me. As I'm also told (by 2 medics) and have much read that raised GGT etc, levels can also be caused by prescribed medication and other things like lung disease.... which I have. Here's hoping wishing all goes well in the end. Cheers all.

 

[price1367]

The only test that will be done at your medical is for CDT. The other ones that you mentioned were abandoned over 3 years ago because they were not specific enough for detecting alcohol abuse. CDT seems to be the best marker. You are confusing is CDT test with the EarlyCDT which is a test for antibodies produced that can indicate lung cancer. See here:

http://www.bluecrestscreening.com/bluecrest-health-checks/lung-cancer

Your lung problems should have no effect on the DVLA CDT test, but in any case you are asked on the questionnaire to declare any medication that you are taking and this is taken into account when considering the results.
DVLA may have considered your declaring that you had an alcohol issue alongside your medication for depression when deciding to revoke your licence. It is generally recommended that you do not take alcohol when taking this medication as it can make depression worse and also contribute to drowsiness. That would certainly be a concern for someone with a PCV licence. See the NHS guidance here:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/863.aspx?categoryid=73&subcategoryid=103

In any case, the court also had the opportunity to consider the circumstances of your case and must have agreed with the DVLA decision as they refused to overturn the revocation of your licence. DVLA would normally discuss a PCV revocation with The Traffic Commissioner for your area who presumably agreed with their decision.

The doctor carrying out your medical is not employed by DVLA, he / she is independent and there to simply gather the information at they have been requested to obtain. There should be no reason for them to not 'see eye to eye' with you, just answer the questions that are asked and complete the blood test. There is no need to go into the history of what has happened, or how you feel about how you have been treated. This is of no interest to the doctor, but if you speak strongly about it then this could cause friction. I can sympathise with the position that you have found yourself in, but there is a time and a place to express this.... and the medical is not it!

 

[Virgil1]

Thanks for your help and advice there price1367 - much appreciated. The only thing that I think I can add/reiterate is that the DVLA were/are very much aware of my medication. I have been on this for many years - no problems ever. They had 2 letters (at different times) of support for me from my consultant/doctor (a specialist in drug & alcohol) outlining everything about me. As I've said, they ignored/disregarded these even though he even offered to monitor me (freely) on behalf of the DVLA.

Also remembering all this happened by a phone call and then also letters. I also previously did see the Traffic Commissioner on another occasion, which there was no problems.

I do believe that if I could have afforded expert representation at Court then I would have fared a lot better - but who knows.

As far as the blood test is concerned I'm just going by what my GP, and a doctor friend mentioned to me, and also the reports/information I've read on medical websites.

I was trying to be brief initially as there is a bit more to this. Actually, I realised earlier that my medical is tomorrow, so here's hoping all goes well (and beyond).

Again, thanks for your time, help and advice price1367.