DVLA revoked my licence after GP form error about anxiety treatment

[Dolly89]

Not sure where this post fits but wondering if anyone has experience of the following situation.

I’ve suffered with mild anxiety for a very long time and in 2018 it all came to a head with work and my husband being involved in a car accident. So through consultation with my dr I began taking Citalopram 10mg and it made my daily life so much better. Anyway fast forward to a few years ago, I collected my prescription and on the sticker was a note caution:driving may be impaired. This was never an issue for me and I spoke with the pharmacy who said it can cause issues but usually when you begin taking it. I looked up on the DVLA website at the time and anxiety and depression are conditions they need to be aware of. So I diligently informed them and got a letter back saying this was fine and no restrictions. Then April this year, my job became incredibly stressful and I was in my second trimester of my second pregnancy which had taken much more of a toll on me and my body. I went back to the GP who suggested we up my dose to 20mg. As there was a change in my dose I thought I needed to let the DVLA know (I didn’t as it turned out!) this was mid April. Anyway 3-4 weeks later they wrote to me and said that they would need more information my from doctor before making a final decision. This form was sent to them and from my records I can see the GP did this on the 29th May, well over a month after I’d first been seen! Unfortunately the error on my part was I put down who my GP was and not who I saw. So this GP went off the notes And ticked the boxes to say that I wasn’t well and stable to drive (as I’d mentioned mild brain fog and cognitive fatigue) and my anxiety was likely to impair my driving. This has never been the case. Then this week I get a letter from the DVLA who have now revoked my license due my mental health condition not being well and stable for me to drive safely!

I phoned the GP straight away after checking the notes that had been sent to the DVLA and a really lovely GP has written in my defence. She noted that the GP should have been more careful in completing the form and I suggested they should have called me as the time passed had been over a month! I’ve also contacted the DVLA who have said that they can make my case priority and I’ve given them the details of the email sent from the GP.

So I guess I’m asking has anyone been in this situation and their license was successfully reinstated and the timeframe was quick? The irony is, I’m now anxious there’s going to be a back log or some complication meaning I don’t get it back, simply because it’s was too honest!

I'm sorry to pile on here OP but the likelihood of you having your license back in September is almost non-existent.

Well I’m trying to stay positive mainly for the fact that my condition isn’t something that required hospital stays, or consults etc. And is simply an error on a form. But thank you for your input x

That’s helpful to know. Thank you for your response x

So I know that now. It was just unclear when I completed the forms unfortunately I’m now paying the price.

DVLA are notoriously bad at reinstating licenses. My son had a seizure and was told not to drive for six months. No further seizures occurred but after nine months he still hadn’t got his license back despite reapplying and sending medical info etc. In the end we got our MP involved and the matter was resolved in literally days.

Oh dear not good. I completed the form on the 7/4 and sent it to them via email that day. They then wrote to me but there’s not date on the letter so I have no idea when it was sent.. but the GP completed her form on the 29th May. They then wrote back on the 17th July (which I recorded on the 22nd) that I couldn’t drive. I just don’t understand why it takes so long for them to review records?

Have heard of people getting their licence reinstated quickly when their MP is involved so that’s good to know!

Gosh op wish you'd have asked on here before notifying the dvla!! I hope you get it back soon

Yep, me too! Although I do place some blame with the GP as they could have contacted me and explained what they were doing/saying as that’s exactly where the wording has come from!

Bloke at work said his licence was removed within a day when he informed them of an illness but took 18 months of frustration to get it back when his illness was resolved. It affected his mental health badly as he had to get two buses to work and it made a 44 minute journey into a 2-3 hour one. Shocking service. He got MP involved after 6 months but still wasn’t quick.
some severe issues in that section of DVLA I think.

When was this? What was his illness?

Just to emphasise what someone said up thread. If you post anything to the dvla, make sure you send it by a signed for service. Things have a habit of getting lost in the dvla medical department so it’s crucial to know when something definitely arrives.
i had to get my MP involved (the opinion of a top neurosurgeon wasn’t enough!!) and the dvla lied to him. The medical dept is incredibly frustrating to deal with but keep a record of every interaction. And stay polite over the phone (sometimes incredibly difficult to do)

My error, I didn't explain properly.

Once my insurance was informed, they immediately pulled my cover.

Even when I FINALLY found an insurance company to accept me, I had to declare that I had been refused cover.

Hence massively increased premiums

OP why on earth did you think you had to inform DVLA about citalopram? That's not honest, thats just stupid or seriously naive. Literally millions of people are on SSRIs.
Also you definitely do not need to wait 6-8weeks to drive after a section if you feel well.

I know im being unkind and im sorry I just almost cant believe this post.

I have a restricted license because of type 1 diabetes. Every three years the DVLA send me a form and asks any changes to my condition I say no and then they reissue a new one. Then after about four renewals they ask for a doctor to fill in a more in depth form. So I go and my GP asks me some questions and all fine. Except he ticked the wrong box - instead of Monday is aware of signs of hypoglycaemia he ticked unaware. So a month later my license was revoked. In the letter they say there is an appeal process and the GP can write a correction. This part was a pain and there was a deadline but eventually I managed to get the GP to do this. After the letter was sent it took about six weeks for me to get my license back.

The Dvla seem under resourced, my medically restricted license took 10 months to be renewed, luckily I was able to drive whilst in the backlog as id submitted my application in time.

Wishing you all the luck in the world.

That’s really positive. Thank you for sharing. So the error was on the GP? Thankfully my GP has written to them the say day I received the letter so fingers crossed it’s a swift process.

Thank you x

Then why bother comment if you’re not going to be helpful. I’ve admitted my mistake, and no I don’t believe I was being stupid! We can all learn from the error of our ways.

@Dolly89i really feel for you. I’m guessing you are an anxious person, and obviously incredibly honest. As an aside , you can probably drive two weeks after a planned C Section, I know I did.
I’ve heard part of the issue is that since Covid, many DVLA employees are still WFH. This is not helping wait times at all. A friend who recently surrendered her licence due to complications with cancer treatment had to wait just over a year to get it back and almost destroyed her mental health in doing so.
I suggest like others that you involve your MP as soon as you can because it will likely be a lengthy wait.

This. Maybe be a bit less diligent and look out for yourself.

My dad had his license taken away because he was an absolute liability due to a medical condition. He was actually reported by a family member and a neighbour independently. Because he’s stubborn, he contacted them weekly for a year and they gave him his license back, possibly to shut him up. It was not the right decision!

That’s mental. My mil was driving around with dementia… and they weren’t interested !!

A prime example of being overly honest and compliant. I’ve been on anti depressants for 20 years, and would absolutely not offer that info up to my insurer, because it would have the potential to open a can of worms if it landed on the wrong desk.

You have to report any severe anxiety or depression to DVLA. DVLA consider severe to mean "Significant memory or concentration problems, agitation, behavioural disturbance or suicidal thoughts"

If the GP you originally saw, recorded this in your notes, then the second GP who completed the form would have done so as per the medical record. So without seeing what is written in your record (which you can view on the app if you wish) it is impossible to know which GP, if any are at fault.

However...

If it's a group 1 licence (normal car licence) they will/should revoke the licence for three months only. I doubt the GP letter to DVLA will help undo what has been done but it's possible.

I suspect the worst case scenario is that you will be eligible to get your licence back three months from the date you saw the GP that wrote the letter because that GP can say you were not suffering from severe anxiety or depression from that date. They must think that otherwise they would not have written a letter of support.

So if the appeal doesn't work, just reapply for the licence at the end of the three month revocation period. Get the forms, book a GP (or alternative medical) appointment on that date and send the forms recorded delivery.

Once the DVLA have received the forms you can drive on a section 88. You don't need to wait for your licence to be returned as long as you are medically fit to drive. You don't need a doctor to tell you that you are medically fit but you could ask the doctor to record that they think you are medically fit, in your notes if you wish.

If you have a group two licence, you will need to be considered well for 12 months before you can reapply.