Losing Licence After One Faint

[Prudie]

This is not me but a family member. She lives alone with her dog and has several jobs cleaning private houses. About a month ago she woke in the night to go to loo and passed out and banged her head which caused facial bruising. She took herself to A&E next day and they kept her in for 2 days mainly focusing on heart and blood pressure.She was discharged with them saying they can fing nothing wrong although they have fiddled with her BP tablets.

My question is that this one event has caused the hospital and her GP to say she cannot drive for 6 months. Ìs this normal even though she has no diagnosis, it is a major impact on her life. One faint and we lose our licence? I dont know where to tell her to look for advice.

[jno]

my OH fainted and the hospital couldn't find a cause. Nothing was said about driving licences - but we didn't notify the police or DVLA and presumably the hospital didn't either.

Which doesn't exactly give you advice but does mean that no, there's no automatic loss of licence, nor do I think there should be. A second faint, maybe different.

[Redhelen72]

Goodness - I hope not I have passed out so much - maybe the difference is they know what causes mine?

[aelmpvw]

//She took herself to A&E next day and they kept her in for 2 days mainly focusing on heart and blood pressure//
that seems above and beyond for a faint?

[Redhelen72]

I agree ael, I have been blued and tow'd after a faint then released after 6 hours

[Prudie]

I just used that word ael, I could have said passed out, is that different?

[naomi24]

That sounds very odd. Did she ask the hospital or the GP exactly why? I think that would be my first port of call.

[aelmpvw]

i attended a & e after two recent night seizures and was discharged after they took bloods. No one suggested i should stop driving but i have anyway until further investigations

[choux]

I suppose the bang to the head might have brought on concussion and necessitated a stay in hospital apart from the fainting. No mention of vasovagal syncope?

There are many tests that can be undertaken to try and diagnose why someone with heart/BP problems might faint. They can all be inconclusive as it was in my case.

From the NHS it says this about fainting: "You must tell the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you're fainting regularly as it could affect your ability to drive.

Find out how to tell the DVLA about fainting."

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fainting/

[Prudie]

I agree, she may not have told me everything and it's a bit more awkward as there is no nice way to say it other than she is a bit odd and not super bright.

[THECORBYLOON]

This link includes "fainting (syncope)" and syncope is 'a temporary loss of consciousness usually related to insufficient blood flow to the brain. It's also called fainting or "passing out." It most often occurs when blood pressure is too low (hypotension) and the heart doesn't pump enough oxygen to the brain."

Either way, she needs to inform the DVLA and a form is included in this DVLA link.

https://www.gov.uk/blackouts-and-driving

[aelmpvw]

that's the problem, i bet they're are many selfish drivers who ignore the advice

[jennyjoan]

I was rendered unconscious after being knocked down in 2017 - came to after a few hours - DVLA was never mentioned.

Let the family member rest for a day or two and see what happens. I personally think she'll be ok - but then I don't know her personally LOL.

It is quite difficult to get your licence back from DVLA so let it be a lesson to your family friend NOT to faint again.

[choux]

Ah, so are you more concerned that you, for example, could lose your licence if you happened to faint than you are concerned about a family member?

[MissTerious]

My faint in a similar situation didn't cause me to lose my licence. I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation given tablets and sent home. They took no notice that my back hurt! I had fractured a vertibra when falling. Perhaps they are worried about the bang to the head. Or perhaps they could find nothing and it could have been a seizure which does mean a licence gets taken away.

[aelmpvw]

sure i typed there are?

[THECORBYLOON]

Perhaps the advice not to drive for six month is because the cause is unknown?

Would you rather she took the risk and drove in the knowledge it might happen whilst driving with who knows what consequences?

[Prudie]

Is that to me choux????? If so where does that come from?

[barry1010]

JJ, the DVLA wouldn't have been interested in your blackout because it was caused by the accident. It's when the cause is not known they suspend the driving licence - it could happen again when driving

[choux]

Yes, Prudie. I looked at your post at 11:07 and the second para of the OP.

[Prudie]

I think you are right Barry and that's the reason.