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!

We are in this position at the moment with my son who had two witnessed nocturnal seizures last November (but likely going on longer and only at night)

DVLA notified as required a few days later, nothing from DVLA until March this year when they said they were writing to his neurologist. Nothing since - his license is still valid apparently and DVLA say he can still drive until a decision is made. He has not driven since his last seizure and why would he go against neurologist advice! Imagine of something happened whilst he was at the wheel!

There is a Facebook group called DVLA complaints and the stories on there are terrible - people losing careers because of the delays!

Wishing you the best in getting your license back soon!

Sorry to hear your predicament. Has the neurologist told your son not to drive?

Im calling daily to basically keep on top of it and not let it fall under the radar. I’ll be on mat leave for most of next year so I have time but I really need to able to drive 😖

Yes, initial neurologist letter said not to drive for a year from his last seizure. So he won’t be driving until at least then as heaven forbid he had an accident at the wheel and then the medical records will show he is clearly in the wrong!

if things drag on I would definitely contact your MP as that seems to get things moving a bit on the DVLA complaints page!

Why doesn’t he surrender his licence then? As one of the other posters said, if he surrenders he can then start driving again once the year is up. If he waits for enquiries from docs licence will be revoked so then he has to wait to reapply which takes ages.

This is a no brainer really.

Also regardless of what DVLA admin staff say, he cannot drive, licence or not, because he doesn’t meet the standard to drive as he’s had a seizure.

I am in a similar position with my DS. He last had a seizure during Covid and so far we have been waiting 7 months to hear if he can get a provisional licence. Meanwhile he isn’t eligible for a bus pass because his last DVLA refusal letter is now 2.5 years old.
It is so frustrating.

My da has a medical licence due to a neurological muscular disorder and drives an adapted car.

He did his renewal paperwork last July. His consultant competent in August. Heard nothing for months and then GP asked for information. That was sent through Jan this year and still heard nothing.

Unfortunately due to a severe infection he suffered a collapse and anoxic seizure in Feb so dvla was informed.

Consultant suggested 6 months of not driving.

I contacted the MP as I was worried they would get muddled as they couldn’t revoke a license that was in date as his expired last Aug. (You can continue driving in a medical license until you’re advised to stop whilst it’s reviewed - he’s obviously been advised to stop currently).

The email back from dvla indicates it had takes them 3 months after every medical being sent through before they even looked at it.

Simon afraid our experience is like many on here. Once it’s suspended it takes an age to renew it.

Purchase a bus pass!

Exactly this happened to my mum. A random GP at her surgery was trying to be helpful and do one of the other GP’s paperwork and ticked the wrong box. My mum had her driving licence suspended. It took a year to get it back, but that was in pandemic when DVLA was famously on a massive go slow/ back log etc.

Yes that’s what my DS has done even though the law states if someone is refused a driving licence due to having epilepsy they are entitled to a free bus pass.
At the moment my DS has neither.

Would just like to update everyone who’s taken the time to post and share, my driving licence was reinstated today. I checked the DVLA website and my licence is a full ten year one. I’m beyond happy. They even tried to call but unfortunately my phone was on silent. I do understand my condition is mild anxiety so much les complex that some of the cases on here but it was dealt with within 10 working days which is actually their time frame for loading documents onto the system.

good luck to you all getting your licences back. Xx

I’m so pleased for you it’s worked out well - and quick!

I wish you well in getting your licence back soon but my strong advice to you is to be more careful before revealing stuff that could cost you your licence in future.

You must seek legal advice if there's anything you're unsure about before dropping yourself in the shit.
I'm a little irritated because in a way you've brought this on yourself.

Remember it's not really important to some clerk in the DVLA or your GP if your licence is lost but it is to you.

Don't believe the doctor/patient confidentiality stuff, either.
They've a duty to reveal stuff like this to the DVLA and some are more 'stringent' than others.

Oops. You got it back. Great.

Rest of post still applies though. Never tell 'em anything unless you have to!
All the best.

Agree.
They're like the 'stupid little brother' n Swansea protected by the top brass of the civil service in London.

They're a great big monolith and nobody has final responsibility as a result.

That is not to say that there aren't very diligent people working there before anyone gets insulted, it's just the overall vibe of the place.

Never trust large governmental departments.
It's no skin off their nose, if they f* up, it is your's.