Bluenikky68
Member
Hi all and hope this helps some of you ....
Back in May 2019, I failed my CDT test with a result of 2.3%. My licence was revoked for 12 months based on this and misinformation sent to them by my GP. I appealed through the "Further Evidence" route and now have a new medical scheduled for 22 November. It's been a long hard slog to get there, but worth it to me. I'm a HRO due to my reading of 113 in 2015 and have been on 12 month licences since 2017.
I got copies from my GP surgery of all correspondence between the DVLA and my GP in both directions and found that because I had been prescribed Librium to try and help with my anxiety issues, it had been noted as a detoxification. I pointed out to my GP the error and confirmed that the amount of Librium I was on was not sufficient to be of detox value. I was a heavy drinker, but not dependent. Long story short, my GP re-wrote his letter confirming his mistake and sent it to DVLA.
In the meantime, I had also gone through his letter and the DVLA report request and highlighted my response and arguments each of their points. This was then emailed, faxed and posted to DVLA. Confirming my DR1 questionairre, I advised them that my usual intake is 4-5 units per week, on the last occasion I had consumed 2.3 units. Nowhere on the DR1 or in the medical was I asked about recent drinking. In the 10 days prior to my medical, I had been to several family/ friends parties and drunk over the limit (not driving anyway). I hadn't 'prepared' for the medical, as I had no concerns at all about passing - I didn't even check online suggestions, as I have passed it for the past 2 years without issue. Amazingly, this time included with my notification to book medical there was the CDT INFO sheet attached. Perhaps in future they will also change the DR1 to ask about "recent" intake and not just "usual" and "last occasion".
In short, if you have a medical coming up or failed:
a) Get copies of your GP's report to DVLA BEFORE he/she sends it to them and ensure that you agree with it.
b) Chase up your GP to ensure that they send the report off ASAP (mine didn't send it soon enough and so my licence expired. HROs cannot drive awaiting medical inquiry).
c) Keep chasing up DVLA to see who is writing to who and who is waiting for information.
d) Read the attached CDT Info letter way before your medical!!!
Good luck everyone!
Back in May 2019, I failed my CDT test with a result of 2.3%. My licence was revoked for 12 months based on this and misinformation sent to them by my GP. I appealed through the "Further Evidence" route and now have a new medical scheduled for 22 November. It's been a long hard slog to get there, but worth it to me. I'm a HRO due to my reading of 113 in 2015 and have been on 12 month licences since 2017.
I got copies from my GP surgery of all correspondence between the DVLA and my GP in both directions and found that because I had been prescribed Librium to try and help with my anxiety issues, it had been noted as a detoxification. I pointed out to my GP the error and confirmed that the amount of Librium I was on was not sufficient to be of detox value. I was a heavy drinker, but not dependent. Long story short, my GP re-wrote his letter confirming his mistake and sent it to DVLA.
In the meantime, I had also gone through his letter and the DVLA report request and highlighted my response and arguments each of their points. This was then emailed, faxed and posted to DVLA. Confirming my DR1 questionairre, I advised them that my usual intake is 4-5 units per week, on the last occasion I had consumed 2.3 units. Nowhere on the DR1 or in the medical was I asked about recent drinking. In the 10 days prior to my medical, I had been to several family/ friends parties and drunk over the limit (not driving anyway). I hadn't 'prepared' for the medical, as I had no concerns at all about passing - I didn't even check online suggestions, as I have passed it for the past 2 years without issue. Amazingly, this time included with my notification to book medical there was the CDT INFO sheet attached. Perhaps in future they will also change the DR1 to ask about "recent" intake and not just "usual" and "last occasion".
In short, if you have a medical coming up or failed:
a) Get copies of your GP's report to DVLA BEFORE he/she sends it to them and ensure that you agree with it.
b) Chase up your GP to ensure that they send the report off ASAP (mine didn't send it soon enough and so my licence expired. HROs cannot drive awaiting medical inquiry).
c) Keep chasing up DVLA to see who is writing to who and who is waiting for information.
d) Read the attached CDT Info letter way before your medical!!!
Good luck everyone!