Revoked at 22 for "misuse"!!

Convicted Driver Insurance

Revoked22

New Member
I hope I'm posting in the right section of the forum, I'm completely lost as to where to post. I found this forum through the reccomendation of a friend of mine who was caught drug driving.

Basically I'm a student and I seen my gp in late November with a chest infection, he asked how much I drink a week and I told him around 20-24 units. (it's actually a bit more because I'm a student and I go on maybe 2 nights out a week, normal stuff for someone my age but I didn't tell the doctor that just said 20-24) I thought nothing of it and had completely forgot about it until today, when a letter arrived on my parents door step to say that I was revoked for 6 months for misuse and I would have to show proof of controlled drinking?? It seems my GP has taken it upon himself to inform the DVLA that I was drinking 24 units a week. My question is, how am I supposed to prove controlled drinking when my drinking is already controlled, I don't have a drink problem, I'm 22 for f**k sake. Also how can my doctor report me to the DVLA for this I thought you were allowed to drink 21 units a week as a male, my GP didn't even take bloods.
 
that's an absoloute joke mate , you never even been caught for dd ,and they revoked you . id seriously change doctors .once in dvla hands its hard to get back out of them
 
This is the lowest amount of units I have seen a revoke happening for so far, another user on the forum got revoked for 30 but seriously 20! Unfortunately the reccomendation for weekly units has changed in the past few years, it used to be 21 for males but it is now 14 for both males and females. Get your doctor to do an LFT test every 2 months and use these as the evidence that your drinking is controlled, 3 clear tests with no abnormal scores should get you your licence back as the DVLA deemed me misuse too but I had lost my licence for DD. There is a chance that you will get a medically restricted licence once your revoke ends.
 
Honesty is not always the best policy and more and more are coming on here with the same results, A ban (n) and you have done nothing wrong
 
That is ridiculous. I would never be honest with a doctor nowadays about my alcohol consumption. About 4 years ago I said I drank too much and the doctor offered to refer me to an addiction service, but it didn't happen. Probably just as well.
 
Thanks for the advice, I'm not going to change GP until I have this sorted but once it is sorted out I will never be back with him. He cares more about government regulations than he does about patients. I have made an appointment for my first LFT next week, going to do one a month between now and reapplication. What a terrible mess to be in at 22 just for telling my doctor I drink 20 units, I'll never be telling my doctor anything about drinking again. If 20-24 units gets you revoked then I doubt a single person in my Uni should be holding a licence. What a joke.
 
It is an absolute joke. A few year back when the recommendation was 21 units I remember visiting my GP for a routine BP check and was asked how many units I drank per week and said at most 16 which was true. Raised eyebrows from the GP and a stern ticking off for it being 'excessive'.
I did some research and saw instances of GPs contacting the DVLA and licences being revoked with no further checks being made. I spent the next month sweating every time the postman came but fortunately, nothing.
After seeing this GP a couple more times about other issues and being told to 'go private as the NHS is only meant for poor people' I changed surgeries. I'm sure there are many good GPs but some of them seem to be box ticking jobsworths.
 
I hope I'm posting in the right section of the forum, I'm completely lost as to where to post. I found this forum through the reccomendation of a friend of mine who was caught drug driving.

Basically I'm a student and I seen my gp in late November with a chest infection, he asked how much I drink a week and I told him around 20-24 units. (it's actually a bit more because I'm a student and I go on maybe 2 nights out a week, normal stuff for someone my age but I didn't tell the doctor that just said 20-24) I thought nothing of it and had completely forgot about it until today, when a letter arrived on my parents door step to say that I was revoked for 6 months for misuse and I would have to show proof of controlled drinking?? It seems my GP has taken it upon himself to inform the DVLA that I was drinking 24 units a week. My question is, how am I supposed to prove controlled drinking when my drinking is already controlled, I don't have a drink problem, I'm 22 for f**k sake. Also how can my doctor report me to the DVLA for this I thought you were allowed to drink 21 units a week as a male, my GP didn't even take bloods.
Hi Young Un
The DVLA are being especially hard on you and I wonder if its because you fall into the young drivers category, Defoe bin your GP and get LFT,s done. I got revoked after 46yrs clean Licence. You should also take cognisance of the CDT test which you'll have to pass on reapplication. Everything is on this forum to guide you . footnote if they were to do a CDT test on the 38million + licence holders the failure rate would be biblical. Check my thread on "DVLA" Trap
 
Hi Young Un
The DVLA are being especially hard on you and I wonder if its because you fall into the young drivers category, Defoe bin your GP and get LFT,s done. I got revoked after 46yrs clean Licence. You should also take cognisance of the CDT test which you'll have to pass on reapplication. Everything is on this forum to guide you . footnote if they were to do a CDT test on the 38million + licence holders the failure rate would be biblical. Check my thread on "DVLA" Trap

I contacted my solicitor today to see if anything can be done and I've been told nope, I've made my own bed by admitting to drinking over the 14 weekly units. Also I did say I felt like I was been treated unfairly as a young driver but have been told it's the same rule book for 19 year olds as it is for 50 year olds. It's only in your first 2 years of driving that you're under different rules and I've held my licence just gone 5 years! I will not have a CDT test as I live in Northern Ireland, my medical will just be and LFT & MCV. I will see from the results of my LFT next week where I stand.
 
Okay the part of the LFT that DVLA go by is Gamma gt level. Are you sure about CDT its mandatory b4 re issue of licence UK Your doctor wont normally carry out this test ,besides you wont need to have that done till b4 reissue . You can apply 8weeks before revoke period ends
 
Okay the part of the LFT that DVLA go by is Gamma gt level. Are you sure about CDT its mandatory b4 re issue of licence UK Your doctor wont normally carry out this test ,besides you wont need to have that done till b4 reissue . You can apply 8weeks before revoke period ends

He is correct, there is no CDT testing in Northern Ireland. Have been through the whole process myself here and have attached the results of my medical so you can have a look, I was recommended a 10 year licence at the medical but given a 3 year based on my medical history. You can see my blood results on there and there are LFT test results rather than CDT. Screenshot_20190717-131928.jpg
 
He is correct, there is no CDT testing in Northern Ireland. Have been through the whole process myself here and have attached the results of my medical so you can have a look, I was recommended a 10 year licence at the medical but given a 3 year based on my medical history. You can see my blood results on there and there are LFT test results rather than CDT. View attachment 107
Hi Stand corrected id take a LFT anytime over a CDT! . I here there using this in work places e.g Transport for London
 
This is a disgrace.

Doctors do have a duty of care to notify the DVLA if their patient is alcohol dependant but I reckon in this case the GP in question has been spiteful and has literally 'done your legs'. Firstly they should have given you the heads up about contacting the DVLA and their reasons for it.

My issue here is that there are millions of people in the UK who drink far beyond the 20 units per week and still behave responsibility and never get behind a wheel over the limit. In another post recently I referred to Mr Sensible. Mr Sensible works hard throughout the week and every night he treats himself to ONE pint of premium strength beer. He also has ONE on Saturday when he watches football and ONE after his Sunday dinner in the evening. Unfortunately, because Mr Sensible drinks 7 x pints (each at 3 units each) this puts him over the weekly recommended units. Now should Mr Sensible also have his licence revoked?

As a banned drink driver I've always been brought up to be open and honest and sadly I am now starting to realise that the DVLA system will just punish you for opening your mouth & being accountable!!! As I've said previously, there are millions of other drivers in this country who have notifiable conditions that are non alcohol related. These could be for cancer, diabetes or mobility problems. However, I'm sure the vast majority never even consider contacting the DVLA. All I will say is that it is better to keep your mouth shut if you have any medical problems and NEVER reveal your true alcohol consumption.

I have a genuine dislike for authority and don't get me started on the police! Going back to the original author of this thread - I would strongly suggest first of all changing your doctor then I would considering complaining to the general medical counsell about the doctor who reported you because their motives and actions are completely & utterly unreasonable. Doctors are supposed to respect patient confidentiality and everything you tell them in their surgery should be kept behind closed doors. However, in extreme cases where a patient's drinking is a real concern & danger to others they should consider contacting the DVLA if that person is a licence holder. In my opinion, your drinking is not a concern that would warrant a DVLA referral.

Anyone reading this should also do the same - never disclose what you drink. My dad probably drinks around 25 - 30 units per week and from what I've told him he would never disclose this to anyone in the medical professional because he relies on his car so much.

CJ
 
surgery should be kept behind closed doors. However, in extreme cases where a patient's drinking is a real concern & danger to others they should consider contacting the DVLA if that person is a licence holder. In my opinion, your drinking is not a concern that would warrant a DVLA referral.

Totally agree with this and the OP. A lot of people I know can put away twice that of a weekend - if not an evening. I don't do anything near that these days but it's certainly making me think twice about going to see the GP again (I got reported too without warning but that was just after that bloke in Glasgow ploughed his bin-lorry into people so maybe I was just caught up in the political aftermath?).

We had a discussion on here recently about relative cause and how alcohol was far down the list. Maybe your doctor should log on here and broaden their view ?
 
I feel for you 22, this is utter bullshit, but that’s DVLA and snowflake doctors for you.

Firstly, I would make a subject access request from DVLA for all info held about you. I would also make a SAR for your medical records, going back at least 6 years. You basically need to know where you stand.

For DVLA you can appeal the revocation. A well worded appeal *might* change things, particularly if you can point out that their own guidelines suggest that persistent misuse is characterised as:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guide to definition of misuse

There is no singular definition to embrace all the variables within alcohol misuse – but the DVLA offers the following:

A state that causes, because of consumption of alcohol, disturbance of behaviour, related disease or other consequences likely to cause the patient, their family or society present or future harm and that may or may not be associated with dependence.

The World Health Organization's classification (ICD-10) code F10.1 is relevant.-
Persistent alcohol misuse
confirmed by medical enquiry and/or evidence of otherwise unexplained abnormal blood markers. Must not drive and must notify the DVLA.
Licence will be refused or revoked until after:
♦ a minimum of 6 months of controlled drinking or abstinence, and
♦ normalisation of blood parameters.

The patient should be referred for advice from medical or other sources during the period of no driving.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The point here is there is no specific number of units that define misuse, and if none of these things are in your record, such as anxiety/depression, being arrested, or hospitalisation form alcohol poisoning, then your argument would be that you aren’t “persistently” misusing alcohol. It really depends on what your idiot gp has said, and what is in your medical records, as to how you word your defence.

After this, you can also make a complaint to dvla, and eventually go through to the Independent complaints authority (ICA). The problem here is that the system is rigged against you so you can’t win, and takes soooooo long that you might well have got your licence back long before the end of it.



I would also make a complaint about your gp to the practice. You definitely won’t win this one, and could give yourself a label as a difficult patient, which could affect you in the future in subtle ways you’ll never even know about, so I would get your records before making the complaint and then change to a different surgery, that way it won’t be on the record. Don’t accept the first responses to a complaint, and labour the point that you do not meet the threshold for persistent misuse, and that you were not informed of anything. You could also ask them to define persistent misuse and how it applies to your case, but I suspect it will sound a bit like “yeahbutnobut”.

You could also then go to the PHSO.
This is a useless government whitewash department, but it will definitely be another pain in the arse for the practice and your idiot gp to deal with.

You won’t get any joy from the GMC either, BUT, any complaint through them is recorded and put on the gp’s file for a few years in case other complaints come up, so this will really piss off your gp!

You can also leave a review on 'Care Opinion'.

Ultimately, unless you can afford specialist legal help (not your local solicitor), your best bet is to get armed with info first and appeal, and when that has failed, tow the line and tell them what they want to hear. You won’t be allowed to win any complaints, but if you know this from the outset then you can enjoy being a pain in their collective arses.

Also, anyone reading this far really should look at this:-

https://health.spectator.co.uk/the-new-drinking-guidelines-are-based-on-massaged-evidence/



Good luck.
 
Just to point out that if you change GPs then all your medical notes go with you, once you change the new practice will have all your medical history brought over........
 
Which is why I suggested changing to a new practice before complaining to the old one. As far as I am aware, the old practice can still access your notes to look at (for information purposes), but would not be able to write anything directly on the record as they are no longer the holder.

I am willing to be shot down on this one though, as I'm not a medical "professional", it was a suggestion about how to limit the negative impact of having the brass balls to argue against an idiot gp. When I made my complaint I moved practice first. Because I regularly made SAR requests to check information while I was getting my licence back, I know that it did eventually come in to the notes because of requests from the PHSO (LOL) for a copy of the record and other stuff, and it isn't helped by my insisting on exercising my right have my views put on the record. Any gp reading my notes now is going to be on the defensive, make assumptions, and ask questions, which is why I haven't bothered with one since. I did need to see a gp once, so I went to a walk in clinic. There are boxes that can be ticked on forms that allow you to not share this information between gps, clinics, and hospitals, and there is even a box you can tick from dvla to not share the outcome of their decisions with your gp. I always tick these boxes because after reading my medical records and seeing all the mistakes (which are now called facts), I don't trust a single feckin one of them.

That reminds me though, I really must make an appointment soon so I can feed some positive bullshit in to the overall picture, but the thought of seeing a gp makes me feel sick.
 
Which is why I suggested changing to a new practice before complaining to the old one. As far as I am aware, the old practice can still access your notes to look at (for information purposes), but would not be able to write anything directly on the record as they are no longer the holder.

I am willing to be shot down on this one though, as I'm not a medical "professional", it was a suggestion about how to limit the negative impact of having the brass balls to argue against an idiot gp. When I made my complaint I moved practice first. Because I regularly made SAR requests to check information while I was getting my licence back, I know that it did eventually come in to the notes because of requests from the PHSO (LOL) for a copy of the record and other stuff, and it isn't helped by my insisting on exercising my right have my views put on the record. Any gp reading my notes now is going to be on the defensive, make assumptions, and ask questions, which is why I haven't bothered with one since. I did need to see a gp once, so I went to a walk in clinic. There are boxes that can be ticked on forms that allow you to not share this information between gps, clinics, and hospitals, and there is even a box you can tick from dvla to not share the outcome of their decisions with your gp. I always tick these boxes because after reading my medical records and seeing all the mistakes (which are now called facts), I don't trust a single feckin one of them.

That reminds me though, I really must make an appointment soon so I can feed some positive bullshit in to the overall picture, but the thought of seeing a gp makes me feel sick.
Well said deisel2 .......
 
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