Heart attacks and DVLA...

[Squirdle]

Dad suffered a major heart attack 6 months ago (blimey was it really that long ago!) and has recovered pretty well all things considered. I went to an important hospital appoitment with him yesterday and he was told that they didn't see any reason why he shouldn't start driving again. But....we also found out he should have contacted the DVLA after his heart attack which hasn't been done.

What I need to know is, when we contact them will they need something like a doctors letter confirming he is fit to drive or is it just a case of them needing the info on file?

Dad does still have some short term memory loss, but this doesn't have any effect on his knowing how to get to and from places. He came here a couple of weeks ago with my sister (I live an hour and a half away) and was able to direct my sister.

Hi
I work in a cardiology department and we literally get hundreds of letters from the DVLA regarding drivers who have had heart attacks.

A lot of the time an exercise test is required.

It is usually a case of the hospital consultant writing a letter to say he is fit.

Thanks for that info, I thought some kind of doctors or consultants note would be required and have explained this to dad. He will be having a consultants appointment fairly soon so hopefully we can get the ball rolling for him then. He loves driving and has missed it so to be able to drive again and recover some of his independence will be great for him.

I think the DVLA have to write to the Consultant direct.

It might be worth you asking them to write to the Consultant before the appointment to make it quicker?

Just an idea!!