Dvla wants doctor assessment

[Livingintheclouds]

I have had type 1 diabetes for 18 years (developed when pregnant). I have had no change in my condition, have reasonable control, some very minor damage in one eye that they are monitoring but requires no action.
So my driving licence has just come up for renewal and they have asked for me to see my doctor 'to assess fitness to drive'. This is the fist time they have asked this. I'm surprised they are doing this now with covid - you can't get to see the GP at all - it's by phone for the last year. I have six weeks from date of letter to see him (snd of course the letter took ten days to arrive, do now less than five).
Two questions: will the doctor require I attend in person or just ask questions over the phone?
And my license expires the end of the month, but I have five weeks to see the doc snd then they have to file their report etc, so what happens about my driving and my insurance?

Anyone?

Hi OP, it seems unusual (to me anyway) that you've managed for so long to not have to see the doctor to review your diabetes and eye health. A family member has been Type 1 for 20+ years and has had to have a medical and eye test with their doctor every 3 years despite their diabetes being very well managed and perfect eyesight. I would book in as soon as you can - explain to the receptionist the urgency. The GP may be able to complete the eye assessment too. The DVLA should have sent a form for the doctor (and optician?) to complete, you will need to pay the practice for them to do so, think it cost my relative £115 for the privilege . Hope you manage to get sorted, but I would get on the case ASAP as the DVLA are notoriously useless at dealing with these things.

Oh I get my eyes tested every year and feet checked too - in fact just had eyes done at the hospital, that's how I know I have minor damage in one eye. My eyesight has actually improved in the last two years (I was shortsighted years before I developed diabetes). And I've seen the doctor (or more usually diabetic nurse) many times over the years! I've just never had the dvla request it. The letter says to wait a week after receiving it before contacting gp (odd) but that in itself is beyond the date on my licence! I've rung the number on the letter but just get referred to the website and then disconnected.

I would just go with whatever it says on the letter then, contact your GP in a weeks time. Be prepared for it not to be straightforward though, as I said the DVLA are not without fault. When you do get your license renewed/back from them make sure it has the right vehicle entitlements on the back!

Can't answer your question about whether you can drive in the interim if your license expires in the meantime. Someone else will hopefully know the answer.

Good luck!!

Thanks @namechangedx20

How often do you have to reapply for your licence? My DF has to reapply every three years due to epilepsy and it always needs to be counter signed by the GP. I'm surprised you've not had to do it before

My daughter is 16 nearly 17 and transitioning to adult services for her type1 diabetes Care, last appointment she had her consultant asked if she would like to drive and if so she’d need regular medicals to gain and keep her licence.

My licence is three years. So it has been renewed 4 times. There's an online form and it ask for any changes in my condition and a few other questions and states they may need to get in touch with my GP. I've always done it and a couple weeks later my licence turns up.
The fact they want me to be assessed is not the issue, it's that my licence expires next week and in the letter it says, first, to wait a week before contacting GP but still try and have the appointment within six weeks, second that the doc has two weeks to notify the dvla, and finally they do their own review 'which may take some weeks'. Meanwhile I'm a single mother, about to move, and rely on my car. As I said I have tried calling the number on the letter only to be referred to website (which does not address my question) and disconnected.
I'm worried about driving without a valid licence and my insurance. Is there a grace period? I can't imagine it lasts 'some weeks'!

I've just had my application through with no problems (and definitely no GP contact)
Did you mention assisted hypos on the form perhaps?

Your driving licence will not expire if you have an ongoing medical case which the DVLA is investigating themselves.

Have you contacted Gp? They will know how urgent this is and hopefully book you in soon.

I too find this odd because I've had to had to fill out forms every 3 years and it asks me the date of when I last saw my consultant.

Update:
I have telephone consultation in June with GP. I found buried in the website there's something called a section 88, which is what people who have had their licence suspended and are awaiting reissue (usually for DUIs, which is why I couldn't find it) but also for those with a medical reason. So you can continue to drive even if your licence has expired (or your driving suspension has ended) as long as it is under review (and your doctor hasn't told you not to drive).