Driving after c section - Dr approval for insurance

[AFC1020]

Evening all,

Im 6 weeks PP following a section. Checked with insurance they say I need to signed off by a Dr to be able to drive again. I’ve called Drs and receptionist says they don’t do appointments to check on mum anymore after baby (which apparently some don’t) I mentioned to receptionist that my insurance company want clearance from a Dr before they’ll let me drive again, she said aslong as the wound has healed and I feel ok, yes I can drive, and reiterated they don’t offer Drs appointments to check that Im ok to drive. So what do I do? Any advice please 🙏

Many thanks

See a private gp and pay for the letter if you’re insurance company demand it.

it’s not nhs work and is a waste of an appointment.

and the vote with your purse next year and change to a different company.

I was under the impression GP practices were contractually required to offer the 6-8 week new mother & baby check up.

You'd have to pay for a letter anyway though.

So strange that your insurance company wouldn’t let you drive until 6 weeks! Mine was always when I felt fit to drive which was 4 weeks the first time and just over 2 weeks the second. I had asked my consultant the first time and he said it was a matter between me and the insurance company, doctors don’t get involved.

No just baby here. They removed the mum element funding completely .

And it’s a service they choose to be involved in for babies, they can decline the whole service.

Yes when I spoke to midwife she said not all GP surgeries offer a 6-8 week check on mum just baby, with my last baby I had a Drs check so this is something new.

Im a total burden on family at the moment so was hoping to get back behind the wheel this week! Will be looking for a private GP tomorrow, thank you all 😊 x

Exactly this. The insurance company really just want to pass the buck on making a decision and have a ‘risk sink’ incase you do crash.

@UncharteredWaters yes I got that impression from them. Thank you for your help x

What were you given that told you couldn't drive? How did your insurance company know you couldn't? Given that C-sections aren't exactly rare, I can't imagine that every time one is performed the doctor gets the patient's car details and reports them as unfit to drive to their insurance, and then does the same in reverse after 6 weeks. Don't people just think "I won't drive" and like not drive?!! I mean technically there are lots of illnesses that would make you unsafe to drive - vomiting every 2 minutes would be rather distracting; floppy with a fever, not so alert; bad headache would effect concentration. Wouldn't that mean that drivers had to see the doctor twice for every infection - what a complete waste of NHS time and resources!!

@stichguru you make a very good point! When I was discharged from hospital the midwife told me I wasn’t fit to drive for 6 weeks and I that I would be cleared by my Dr when they got in touch for my 6/8 week appointment when they’d check my wound, talk over contraception etc. I hadn’t heard from the Drs so gave them a call and that’s what the receptionist said. I contacted my insurance who told me the above. I was checked over last time after baby before so this is all new to me! I think as unchartedwaters said it’s a passing the buck thing. If it’s what my insurers need I’ll contact a private gp and pay, I just wondered if the same had happened to anyone else as I really need to get back on the rd as soon as poss 😊

I drove 2 weeks after mine , I had a text book recovery ( if not better ) and my GP said as long as you can comfortably do an emergency stop it’s fine , no letters involved . How would your insurance company even know you’d had an operation ?

Has it been removed recently as I got the mam and baby check at 6 weeks

Yes, exactly, why would you tell them? Why is this 6 week rule only applicable to c sections and not other operations? You need to assess yourself whether you are fit to drive, emergency stop etc. With my first c section I had an excellent recovery and drove short, local distances from 3.5 weeks. With my second, I had a more painful and slower recovery and didn't drive until almost 6 weeks - entirely self assessed and nothing to do with my insurance company.

I called my insurer after two weeks and it was a non issue. I was fine to drive.

I was driving 10 days after a c section with my twins. Are you with an obscure insurer as all the ones I've known have never required a GP sign off! They just stated it was up to me - if I was able to make an emergency stop then I was fine to drive

They legally have to have a post birth check in

It's a myth and so annoying