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.

[furrypusscat]

The doctors may suspect the faint may have been a T.I.A, - Transient Ischaemic Attack in which case car drivers have to inform DVLA with automatic suspension for 4 weeks I believe and professional drivers, HGV/PCV 12 months with rigorous medical after 12 months before getting their licence back. T.I.A's aka mini strokes can happen again so hence the suspension of licences. Has the person got any follow up appointments for further tests?

[THECORBYLOON]

FURRY, that is the DVLA advice in the event of a TIA.

However, the DVLA guidance for medical professionals clearly states for unexplained syncope (fainting),

"Must not drive and must notify DVLA. If no cause has been identified, the licence will be refused or revoked for 6 months."

That was the advice given in this case.

[Prudie]

The hospital said she would have an under the skin device inserted to monitor her heart (her words) but as yet that hasn't happened and when she rings to enquire about it they say they are too busy.

PP if you read the thread several posters have said they weren't told anything about not driving. She was discharged with nothing as yet found amiss so it's not that outrageous to want a second opinion re the driving.

I'm still miffed about the posters who've been unpleasant, I presume it depends on who asks the question in this section. Also for choux she is my stepsister so at no point am I more concerned about me getting her ailment via genetics. I just wanted to say the right things to her when she's upset on the phone.

[choux]

Good morning, Prudie. The problem with posting Q's on AB is that one cannot control the answers one will get so it means taking the rough with the smooth. You obviously didn't like my answers and didn't have the courtesy to accept my apology - no matter.

I have re-read the answers and cannot see any other "unpleasant" ones. Do you mean the ones that support a driving ban? If you can look at the subject matter in a detached way might you not be more supportive of driving bans until a medical diagnosis has been made?

As I said in my first response, I have experienced passing out on more than one occasion and yet I was never told not to drive nor to inform the DVLA. Despite numerous tests over months of investigation I received no diagnosis. I have heart and BP problems, have had a stroke and a heart attack. I am still able to drive so I consider myself very fortunate in that respect. Where I live there is no public transport service for a few miles from home.

Your relative obviously feels a huge impact from the ban, let us hope it is temporary only and that her health issue can be treated well enough to enable her to drive again in the future. She did well to go to A&E for her own sake. Do you think she was referring to a pacemaker that may yet be fitted? I suspect it may take quite some time for her to be fully checked out to cover all possibilities, but, of course, I wish her well.

I feel very sorry for Canary who has lost his licence permanently but he seems to be quite stoic about it - good for him.

If you still feel "miffed" maybe consider stepping away from the keyboard for a while.

[Peter Pedant]

// so it's not that outrageous to want a second opinion re the driving.//
er
"this one event has caused the hospital and her GP to say she cannot drive for 6 months".......is advice from two people

Following an unrelated case -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21829540

airline terminology has crept into medicine
"ought" is best practice
"must" is - well a must. If you dont do a must and someone is injured - then you paaaaaaaay !!

CBL post: "Must not drive and must notify DVLA.

I can see a muuust ( sing songy voice)
Must I obey this? yes yo MUST - advice is not an issue here

( this is mainstream Boris stuff - " I dont know if I have to obey the law when everyone else has to" - - or must

[Redhelen72]

MIL has a pacemaker has passéd out several times and has never been told to stop driving!

[choux]

Life is a post code lottery for sure, Redhelen.

[Prudie]

Good morning choux. I did not have rhe courtesy to accept your apology because I think you only said it because anther poster thought you harsh. Had it just seemed I was upset I don't believe you'd have apologised at all, even though your remark was totally uncalled for. I still can't see why you would conclude I was only really worried about myself. Best left that we disagree.

[choux]

Thankfully you don't know me, Prudie, I gave you my apology so do not insinuate I did not mean it. Now who is being unpleasant?

[Prudie]

Thanks RH, that's all I meant by different health care professionals. It seems to vary.
I will conclude that she's not driving, wouldn't dream of flouting the rules either. She will just have to sit it out. I'm also really sorry for your plight Canary. Thank you to everyone for offering their thoughts.

[Peter Pedant]

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

You must tell DVLA if you have been fitted with a pacemaker.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a medical condition or treatment that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.

seems clear enough to me !
but you know me: I actually read the stuff parked in front of me !

you know what? people give themselves choices when they dont have any !