DVLA Medical

[deviousdee1]

Can anyone tell me how long it takes after you post your D1 form off to the DVLA to get an appointment for your medical? Had my own blood test done at the Doc's last week and all is good so want to get my official medical done asap so I can finally relax! Dee x

 

[habanero]

DVLA medical is a sham. £96 plus vat, I was in and out in a matter of minutes - took longer to fill the form out in the reception than it did for the guy to check me over. I was honest about my past drinking and so the DVLA contacted my own GP which dragged things out even longer - pester calling the DVLA regularly seemed to help keep the casework in motion as at one point in late May I was told they had a backlog to February that they were still working on.

Actual medical - fill out form in reception, doctor checked the form and took blood, checked my BP, height, weight, prodded my stomach and that was it. Barely 5mins. The place the DVLA had as their required surgery was really out of the way of any public transport and took me 2hrs each way to get too on the buses, it might aswell have been the other side of the country it was such a pain to get to.

Honestly cannot see any justification in the medical when they had to consult my own GP regardless - purely money grabbing.

 

[Willi]

Hi everyone,

I've just registered here and am wondering if someone might be able to help me. I reckoned I'd try here first before starting a new thread. Basically I'm due to take a medical soon because I was classed as a high risk offender (reading: 95). I'm not worried about passing, because I rarely drink anymore, but am worried because I've read that it is nowadays common practice for the DVLA to contact your GP after taking the medical. Many years ago (when I was roundabout 16-18) I was regularly drinking and smoking (a lot of) weed I had no problem telling my GP all of this - he was a good guy and I didn't mind telling him the truth. Also when I moved to university I was drinking a lot and again I told the new university GP about this. Now I'm wishing I'd kept my mouth shut!

I've heard several things, which maybe someone can confirm or discredit:
1. The DVLA will definitely contact my GP.
2. When contacted, the GP has a duty to inform the DVLA of these sorts of incidents (which to me is insane, because seriously, what's happened to doctor-patient confidentiality?!)

Also, maybe the main question that I'm thinking about: I don't remember ever giving the DVLA the name of any GP, so how do they find out who I have been to see? Do they call the NHS maybe?

Can I ring up the surgery and tell them to not release any of my information?

Any answers would be appreciated,

Cheers,
Will

 

[habanero]

Hi everyone,

I've just registered here and am wondering if someone might be able to help me. I reckoned I'd try here first before starting a new thread. Basically I'm due to take a medical soon because I was classed as a high risk offender (reading: 95). I'm not worried about passing, because I rarely drink anymore, but am worried because I've read that it is nowadays common practice for the DVLA to contact your GP after taking the medical. Many years ago (when I was roundabout 16-18) I was regularly drinking and smoking (a lot of) weed I had no problem telling my GP all of this - he was a good guy and I didn't mind telling him the truth. Also when I moved to university I was drinking a lot and again I told the new university GP about this. Now I'm wishing I'd kept my mouth shut!

I've heard several things, which maybe someone can confirm or discredit:
1. The DVLA will definitely contact my GP.
2. When contacted, the GP has a duty to inform the DVLA of these sorts of incidents (which to me is insane, because seriously, what's happened to doctor-patient confidentiality?!)

Also, maybe the main question that I'm thinking about: I don't remember ever giving the DVLA the name of any GP, so how do they find out who I have been to see? Do they call the NHS maybe?

Can I ring up the surgery and tell them to not release any of my information?

Any answers would be appreciated,

Cheers,
Will

It works like this: if you don't allow them to contact your GP (ie don't give consent) then you don't get your license back - period. It's set in stone on the grounds that you must be hiding something and therefore by default will be deemed medically unfit to drive. Not giving them your GP's details just means they'll drag it out even longer or just stop your entire application at that point and make you start it from scratch.

I don't know what my GP was asked to provide information wise, all I wanted was my license back so I didn't care. But they'll certainly want to know everything possible that could make you a medical risk and they'll drag out your application as long as possible while they wait for the information and then once they have it spend even longer pawing over it and thinking about it.

 

[benjyman2013]

It works like this: if you don't allow them to contact your GP (ie don't give consent) then you don't get your license back - period. It's set in stone on the grounds that you must be hiding something and therefore by default will be deemed medically unfit to drive. Not giving them your GP's details just means they'll drag it out even longer or just stop your entire application at that point and make you start it from scratch.

I don't know what my GP was asked to provide information wise, all I wanted was my license back so I didn't care. But they'll certainly want to know everything possible that could make you a medical risk and they'll drag out your application as long as possible while they wait for the information and then once they have it spend even longer pawing over it and thinking about it.

Hi Habanero

I know this is an old thread but i was just wondering if after telling the DVLA about your drinking past did they end up giving you your license back. Thanks for your time....

 

[habanero]

Hi Habanero

I know this is an old thread but i was just wondering if after telling the DVLA about your drinking past did they end up giving you your license back. Thanks for your time....

I did, it was the end of May last year when I got it back, but they only gave it back for 1yr and I'm currently going through the whole medical lark again, so far it's been almost 3mths since I got the forms, they've contacted my GP and they wrote to me last week saying it would be approximately another 12 weeks to get a decision. This is annoying because of course I've been back on the road for a year and I've just renewed my insurance - which is costing a stink load still this year.

 

[benjyman2013]

I did, it was the end of May last year when I got it back, but they only gave it back for 1yr and I'm currently going through the whole medical lark again, so far it's been almost 3mths since I got the forms, they've contacted my GP and they wrote to me last week saying it would be approximately another 12 weeks to get a decision. This is annoying because of course I've been back on the road for a year and I've just renewed my insurance - which is costing a stink load still this year.

Hi

Thanks alot for your reply i really appreaciate it, im in a similar situation i have a medical coming up on the 28th of this month and i was worrying about telling them about my drinking past. If you dont mind me asking what sort of drinking habbits did you tell the dvla doctor about, and how does the 1 year temp license work out do they send you a card license or a paper one. Thanks for your time and i wish you the best of luck and i hope you regain your full license back you deserve....

 

[habanero]

Hi

Thanks alot for your reply i really appreaciate it, im in a similar situation i have a medical coming up on the 28th of this month and i was worrying about telling them about my drinking past. If you dont mind me asking what sort of drinking habbits did you tell the dvla doctor about, and how does the 1 year temp license work out do they send you a card license or a paper one. Thanks for your time and i wish you the best of luck and i hope you regain your full license back you deserve....

You have to tell them 3-5yrs worth of history, I'd been through detox in hospital twice in that period so that didn't go down well, but I'd stopped drinking from March 2011 through to the Xmas/New Year then drank over the holidays so had to declare that, been tee-total since January 2012, but with the hospital de-toxes being still inside the 3-5yr period that's what they'll be looking into. The whole process is a right fanny on, if they write to your GP it's a 6 week turn-around for a reply and then 12 weeks for them to decide what to do based on that. If you have more than one doctor/consultant involved in your care then they may contact each but they do them in sequence one after the other (rather than just contacting them all at the same time) meaning it's dragged out even more.
1yr license is a normal plastic license just with a short expiry date on it, I *think* there's also 2 and 3 year versions. It's so they can pull you back in for the medical checks again if they think there's any potential for issues.

Paid up my insurance, small change of £700 after a LOT of shopping around despite being 43yrs old, having beyond the max NCB and the car just being a 7yr old 1.6 estate. When I first started shopping for quotes last year some were coming back at a couple of grand. You have to really hunt down the brokers that specialise, the usual comparison places usually won't even give you the time of day.

The biggest bind of the whole process with the DVLA is the not-knowing aspect, you're told you can drive under section 88 while they do their enquiries, but then it's hanging over you that they *might* decide not to give you your license back, so you take the chance on paying out for insurance that you might have to cancel and lose money on.

 

[benjyman2013]

You have to tell them 3-5yrs worth of history, I'd been through detox in hospital twice in that period so that didn't go down well, but I'd stopped drinking from March 2011 through to the Xmas/New Year then drank over the holidays so had to declare that, been tee-total since January 2012, but with the hospital de-toxes being still inside the 3-5yr period that's what they'll be looking into. The whole process is a right fanny on, if they write to your GP it's a 6 week turn-around for a reply and then 12 weeks for them to decide what to do based on that. If you have more than one doctor/consultant involved in your care then they may contact each but they do them in sequence one after the other (rather than just contacting them all at the same time) meaning it's dragged out even more.
1yr license is a normal plastic license just with a short expiry date on it, I *think* there's also 2 and 3 year versions. It's so they can pull you back in for the medical checks again if they think there's any potential for issues.

Paid up my insurance, small change of £700 after a LOT of shopping around despite being 43yrs old, having beyond the max NCB and the car just being a 7yr old 1.6 estate. When I first started shopping for quotes last year some were coming back at a couple of grand. You have to really hunt down the brokers that specialise, the usual comparison places usually won't even give you the time of day.

The biggest bind of the whole process with the DVLA is the not-knowing aspect, you're told you can drive under section 88 while they do their enquiries, but then it's hanging over you that they *might* decide not to give you your license back, so you take the chance on paying out for insurance that you might have to cancel and lose money on.

The whole things such a nightmare isnt it, im in the same boat with insurance im covered under section 88 at the moment but do not want to get insurance until i know i pass the medical. I think it was such a waste of money paying £150 for the drink drive course which reduced 3 months off my ban because by the time my medical is over and the rsults come back it would have propably been 3 months or more. Do you think that telling the dvla medical doctor that i had asked my gp for sleeping pills due to stress and lack of sleep will affect me getting my license back and also i went for a LFT test last year just for a piece of mind to see the status of my liver and come back fine, ive never discussed my drinking habbits before with my doctor. And do you know if they allways contact your GP or is it just if there any abnormalities in the blood test or a answer on the questionare that they need to check....

 

[habanero]

The whole things such a nightmare isnt it, im in the same boat with insurance im covered under section 88 at the moment but do not want to get insurance until i know i pass the medical. I think it was such a waste of money paying £150 for the drink drive course which reduced 3 months off my ban because by the time my medical is over and the rsults come back it would have propably been 3 months or more. Do you think that telling the dvla medical doctor that i had asked my gp for sleeping pills due to stress and lack of sleep will affect me getting my license back and also i went for a LFT test last year just for a piece of mind to see the status of my liver and come back fine, ive never discussed my drinking habbits before with my doctor. And do you know if they allways contact your GP or is it just if there any abnormalities in the blood test or a answer on the questionare that they need to check....

If the GP hasn't advised you not to drive while you're on the pills then that shouldn't matter.

If there's anything on the blood test or questionnaire then they'll contact the GP, at the point you go for the medical you'll be asked to sign the consent for the DVLA to contact your GP - you don't have to consent to it, but if you don't it's as good as telling them that you're trying to hide something from them in your medical background so they'll deem you as being unfit by virtue of with-holding the information.

I didn't want to put the car back on the road on the chance they'd decline to issue the license thinking it would only be a couple of weeks to hear from them since I had the forms in January, my ban ended at the start of March last year, it was late May when I put the car back on the road - I just got sick of it being dragged out and all they'll tell you is that it's being looked at by the medical team - no indication of how long you'll be waiting.

 

[gingerbreadtinman]

Hi, im currently awaiting the outcome of my medical. All went well during the medical itself. No sign of alcohol dependency or liver damage. The dvla are sending me a letter about section 88 at the moment. I am wondering though, if I am refused the return of my licence, do they give you a ban or a disqualification, the reason I ask is that if it is refused I plan on moving to ireland and getting a licence there. Will I ve doing it legally. I know that if your banned in uk your are banned in ireland, but will I be banned? Or just refused a uk licence. I do drink but only as much as the next person. I know lots of heavy drinkers who drive who would never pass a medical and they drive wagons and all sorts. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[habanero]

It's not a ban/disqualification, they just refuse to issue it on medical grounds.
If you've just done your medical, be aware that it'll be around 3mths before you get a decision and that's assuming they don't also contact your own GP (which can add more months to it), they're bloody useless.

 

[gingerbreadtinman]

It's not a ban/disqualification, they just refuse to issue it on medical grounds.
If you've just done your medical, be aware that it'll be around 3mths before you get a decision and that's assuming they don't also contact your own GP (which can add more months to it), they're bloody useless.

So its not a ban, this should mean I can go to ireland and apply from scratch then. Im hoping anyway. Thanks

 

[over3under4]

After completeimng the course my disqualification ends in March 2014. I have completed and sent away D1 form along with postal order of £90 as I was comcerened about the timescale so applied as soon as I was 3 months from the disqualification ending.
Can anyone advise me on the next step which is the medical.The DVLA will tell me to see a certqain GP. Is it the GP on the day who decides there and then if further information is required from my own GP or is it a standard practice to request information from my own GP. I have not had alcohol for about 1 year and should sail through the medical but is there anything anyone can recommend I say or do or not say foron the day of the medical to encourage the DVLA GP to simply tick the box and move on?

 

[Moodle]

After completeimng the course my disqualification ends in March 2014. I have completed and sent away D1 form along with postal order of £90 as I was comcerened about the timescale so applied as soon as I was 3 months from the disqualification ending.
Can anyone advise me on the next step which is the medical.The DVLA will tell me to see a certqain GP. Is it the GP on the day who decides there and then if further information is required from my own GP or is it a standard practice to request information from my own GP. I have not had alcohol for about 1 year and should sail through the medical but is there anything anyone can recommend I say or do or not say foron the day of the medical to encourage the DVLA GP to simply tick the box and move on?

Hi there,

I had my medical in November and received my licence back on around December 6th, it was just over 2 weeks all told and they send it 2nd class with no covering letter, just the licence.

I would say it certainly isn't standard practice to write to your GP, they will do that if the results of the blood test coupled with the answers on the medical questionnaire flag up anything they aren't happy with. Did you tick no on the D1 form to all the questions asked on there?

There is a thread on here with the most up to date copy of the questionnaire on it but basically they look at a 3 year window in the main but one of the questions was whether you have misused or been dependent on alcohol in the last year... so that will be a no for you, you are asked when you last had a drink (I was even asked what time I stopped drinking) and how much...and how much I usually drink if drinking...do I use cannabis and a pile of other drug related questions, what medication if any you are on etc etc...lots more and he explained that the answers coupled with the results of the blood test, which went straight to the DVLA, would determine whether further enquiries were made.... no urine test for me and no proper eye test...just looked in my eyes, tested reflexes, felt around the liver area, blood pressure & blood test.

Hope that helps,
Moodle

 

[over3under4]

Hi there,

I had my medical in November and received my licence back on around December 6th, it was just over 2 weeks all told and they send it 2nd class with no covering letter, just the licence.

I would say it certainly isn't standard practice to write to your GP, they will do that if the results of the blood test coupled with the answers on the medical questionnaire flag up anything they aren't happy with. Did you tick no on the D1 form to all the questions asked on there?

There is a thread on here with the most up to date copy of the questionnaire on it but basically they look at a 3 year window in the main but one of the questions was whether you have misused or been dependent on alcohol in the last year... so that will be a no for you, you are asked when you last had a drink (I was even asked what time I stopped drinking) and how much...and how much I usually drink if drinking...do I use cannabis and a pile of other drug related questions, what medication if any you are on etc etc...lots more and he explained that the answers coupled with the results of the blood test, which went straight to the DVLA, would determine whether further enquiries were made.... no urine test for me and no proper eye test...just looked in my eyes, tested reflexes, felt around the liver area, blood pressure & blood test.

Hope that helps,
Moodle

Hi Moodle,

Yes this reply is very helpful and very much appreciated, thank you.

I completed the D1 form and did answer no to all medical questions. I imagine the tests should be fine given I've not consumed alcohol for about a year. I'm going to have a look for the questionaire you mentioned is located in a thread.
So after your medical you were issued with a licence the next calendar month. That is good to hear compraed to some of the turnarounds I've read on here today.

 

[Moodle]

Hi Moodle,

Yes this reply is very helpful and very much appreciated, thank you.

I completed the D1 form and did answer no to all medical questions. I imagine the tests should be fine given I've not consumed alcohol for about a year. I'm going to have a look for the questionaire you mentioned is located in a thread.
So after your medical you were issued with a licence the next calendar month. That is good to hear compraed to some of the turnarounds I've read on here today.

Yes, my medical was on the 18th November and got my licence in the post on the 6th December (I think) but I was driving from the 28th November... under section 88 using the letter provided by the DVLA...

I will hunt about for the medical questionnaire I think it was on a DVLANI post...

Moodle

 

[Ghost]

Right. It seem that UK DVLA for supporting race discrimination of current government of policies against EU citizens is going to hit High Court of Europe. I'm tired of this bull****tt. Medcial blah blah blah. Where's the evidence? No evidence. Medical form sent off 4 weeks ago - silence. Time to act! It remains me of communist system - pathronising people. Phoine call tomorrow, court next - and it will go right up to the top, until I will break this stupidity. ****ing letters from employers - wtf is this? Where is evidence! |Evidence that damaged liver is affecting the driving?! Wghere is the evidence that any one - even missusing alcohol - is driving drunk?! No evidence - just assumptions! Facts, we do talk facts! Not assumptions!

 

[over3under4]

Yes, my medical was on the 18th November and got my licence in the post on the 6th December (I think) but I was driving from the 28th November... under section 88 using the letter provided by the DVLA...

I will hunt about for the medical questionnaire I think it was on a DVLANI post...

Moodle

Can anybody guide me to the thread with the currant questions that are asked at the medical please. I have stopped drinking completely and for about a year so I should sail through the liver test etc. I am slightly concerned about the questionaire.

Should I be honest about my past drinking?

If I am honest about my past will this affect the speed of getting my license back for my future?

Is it in my best interest to basically lie about my past as I will obviously pass the liver test etc and then they have no reason to conatct my GP. If I'm honest about my past they may want to contact my GP.

Thanks

 

[Moodle]

Can anybody guide me to the thread with the currant questions that are asked at the medical please. I have stopped drinking completely and for about a year so I should sail through the liver test etc. I am slightly concerned about the questionaire.

Should I be honest about my past drinking?

If I am honest about my past will this affect the speed of getting my license back for my future?

Is it in my best interest to basically lie about my past as I will obviously pass the liver test etc and then they have no reason to conatct my GP. If I'm honest about my past they may want to contact my GP.

Thanks

Hi there,

Here is the link to the questionnaire.....
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260704/DR1V.pdf

I would be surprised if many here would tell you to lie at a medical, that choice really is up to you...have a look at the questions but remember that if you click on the medical section of this site it goes through exactly what happens depending on the results of the questionnaire and the blood test.... its an overall picture...

I knew what questions were likely to be asked before I went in and I also had a private CDT test done before although actually the results came back a day after my medical but having not drunk a thing for over 6 months by then if it had been anything other than coming back as very low I would have been worried...

I think at the end of the day only you can decide what to do on the day, read the front medical page here to get to grips with the way the DVLA deal with medical information on a basic level, look at the questionnaire, you already know that it is v v likely the blood test will have a good result for you, the rest, really is up to you but be aware that obviously if you lie and are caught then you could be charged with fraud.

Tough call....
Moodle