The DVLA...

[the_anticarb]

Now before anyone jumps in and criticises me, I accept that the DVLA have a public duty to prevent unsafe drivers from endangering others lives. However, I am not happy with the draconian way they just whip diabetics' licences off them at a moments notice and then make them wait months and months to get them back, often when information is wrong or has been misconstrued.

For example

People who fill in the form in error, realise their mistake but are told 'too late case closed' as they have admitted to having a hypo but not realised the DVLA mean an assistance-requiring one. This happened to a chap on this very forum, he tried to tell the DVLA he'd made a mistake but was basically told to sod off.

The man who had an accident whilst his blood sugar was perfectly normal, but then had a hypo in the hour that it took to get to hospital, probalby due to shock, yet had his licence revoked for a hypo at the wheel

Doctors who fill the form in wrong, leading to their patient having thier licence revoked and it can then take months to get it back.

People with nocturnal hypos who get their licence revoked for 2 in a year, when they have good daytime control and no intention of ever driving in their sleep

I could go on.

I have now developed a paranoid, but some may say healthy, fear of the DVLA. Having said all this, if I consider that I am not safe to drive, I am responsible enough to stop. But whereas I may stop for a short while, until an issue is resolved, the DVLA would have me stop for a very long time, even months after i am better, and then jump through hoops to get my licence back.

It is my belief that the DVLA see diabetics as worse than drug or drink drivers. After all they can get their licenses back after 6 months sometimes, whereas a diabetic will likely wait at least a year. Whilst I do understand the need for irresponsible diabetics or uncontrolled diabetics to be taken off the road, I feel the DVLA has tarred us all with the same brush and if you do not answer their tick box questions perfectly, or heaven forbid your doctor does not, they will revoke the licence straight away.

The only way for me to be sure of retaining a licence is to ensure that I sanitise the information I tell my health professionals, who hold my licence in their hands. I have already told my partner if I ever need assistance with a hypo (never happened before) for gods sake don't call an ambulance unless it really is the last resort. How long before someone dies because of a reluctance to do this?

I'm not asking the DVLA to let all diabetics, well controlled or not, to be allowed to drive. Just to treat us FAIRLY and with some COMPASSION, not be looking for any excuse to revoke someone's licence and endanger their employment, freedom, quality of life.
They are criminalising being diabetic and this is nothing but legalised discrimination, to the point of persecution.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Agree totally.

Just a note though.. Calling an ambulance isn't the problem.. Its when they wheel you in to the hospital.
I believe that in 27 years, i have only been taken in twice.

I had ambulance out about 4 years ago now, I was not taken in to hospital. Nothing was sent to hospital or doctors from ambulance people. As long as you're levels come up with an ambulance help, then they are prepared to see you eat and let you carry on.
My last one was funny as my hubby only called them out as I was hypo and very ill with vomiting and diaaorhea. They got my levels up but wouldnt leave me until I ate some toast. I warned the I would be sick again, but they insisted. I was sick all over one of the medics. This was actually after they had helped me into a bath!!! They still left me at home though, as my leels were normal and I could sign the form, saying I refused to go.

The ambulance computer systems ( if they have any) do not talk to the mainframe hospital or gp.

I think DVLA is persecuting diabetics too.. I wonder how diabetics get on in other EU countries, as it was all changed supposedly because of the EU.

My dsn is always threatening my licence, my livelihood. She knows that I almost lost my lucence a few years back, have experience of having hypo whilst driving, but constantly threatens me. I know of another two diabetics under same hospital... And they tell me that they just tell the HCP's what they want to hear...the DSN does not threaten their licences...

I am anal about my bloods, levels etc.. I have good symptoms, even at nights.. I do not have assistance. Last appt, my dsn when I was talking to consultant even said to my hubby.. 'I bet you nudge her at night to treat her hypo's' and he said genuinely that he never does. Even then my hubby felt as if they were trying to catch me out about needing assistance at night...

I also wonder whether any HCP has reviewed 3 months of data off blood machines when writing their reports about our control?

 

[Winterhawk]

The secret to dealing with the Dvla is don't tell them nothing. My doctor does not know what I do for employment and I opted out of the computerised record keeping at our surgery. The persecution that we face because of our condition is medeaval. My company does not know of my condition and as I work abroad and my employer is a non eu company they are not really interested as long as I do my job. My yearly annual medicals are handled by a "tame" Spanish doctor who is only interested in the fee and will mark anyone fit for duty.
It's not right but it's the world we live in and the only people who are to blame are the idiots at the dvla etc..
The less information that is in the public domain the better. Take the best care of yourself that you can and fly under the radar..it's causes less problems that way