Mental health exemption??

[Askingforfriend]

I have an elderly friend who cares for his wife who has dementia. She gets sundowning syndrome in the afternoon and going for a drive in the local area every afternoon helps manage the depression. Now there is a lockdown he doesn't know how to deal with this and is worried he will be charged if caught doing it. Can your GP write a note saying that the driving is needed?

Any other ideas?

thank you!!

You can still drive around.. there not gonna stop every car and be like WHERE ARE YOU GOING. People need to drive to go to work, go shopping????? I don't know where you live.. but "lockdown" isn't that serious where I am anyway so you'd never need a note. If it's worrying them I'm sure they could get one if they explained the situation

Does your friend have any paperwork on behalf of his wife such as an Attendance Allowance award or a prescription list printout, in the very unlikely event they were stopped (which they won't be)?

It might put their mind at rest regarding being stopped and explaining things. The police are going to be sympathetic to a genuine case like this.

The worst that'll happen is that they'll be asked (once) to head back home. (Or so we are told.)

On our way to *Tesco officer.

Unless you're in Derbyshire they're hardly likely to get stopped anyway.

(*Other supermarkets are available)
🤣🤣

We take our son with autism for drives to keep him calm and also for out of immediate local area exercise. It is unlikely they will be stopped but he could carry a note written by himself saying what her condition is and why they need to do it ( so he doesn't have to think about what to say or say anything in front of her) and also if he has it, some paperwork that shows her difficulties. We have this in the car just in case although we have never been stopped.

We too our severly autistic child a little bit further than the guidelines for s
a walk during the first lockdown ,I took his DLA award and Blue badge just in case we were stopped and asked , nobody did

My boyfriend got a letter he can show to the police from social services allowing him to travel to see his daughter So just ask

I think you can get them on the gov website, no need to ask GP

www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

That's great @Emelene but are you on the wrong thread? No-one has mentioned masks on this thread. OP is asking about an exemption to drive in the local area.

My mistake yes, sorry, I saw exemption and thought medical exemption for masks.

GPs are under strain so if you can avoid ringing to ask for a letter I would... I don't think there's any formal "medical exemption" from driving restrictions like there is for masks? But hopefully police would show some discretion in this sort of circumstance.

Thanks everyone.

I know he isn't going to do it without permission unfortunately, I did say "who is going to stop you while you are driving?" but he won't consider it. He also can't easily explain what his wife's condition is if stopped because it is a sensitive subject with her.

My friend was able to get a Doctor's note and is happier now.

Good news.