Notification of illness to DVLA

[divlong]

I have just been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea, which I understand that I have to report to the DVLA. I have been managing this condition by myself ever since I became aware of the possibility by limiting myself to short journeys and ensuring I am adequately rested beore each trip. I am worried that if I report it immediately (i.e. before treatment commences) that I may not be able to get to the hospital where the treatment is to take place.

How long do I have before I have to report it (my consultant's letter merely "advises" me to report it) and what is the likelihood of my license being suspended for it. If the license is revoked, how long does it take to get it back after treatment commences.

I understand that the effects of treatment are almost immediate so it seems a little pointless to go through all the paperwork for the sake of a couple of weeks.

Anyone with any previous experience of this?

Cheers

Duncan

[NORMANTHEDOG]

if you have a accident after being told by your doctor to inform the dvla,then it could cause a massive amount of trouble for you,if you knock someone over or plough into a bus stop full of people,through your falling asleep,you could be liable for millions of pounds worth of damages,as you should have also informed your insurance company of your complaint, and it would be invalid as you had not informed them either,people have also been sent to prison for this sort of thing,so i would think seriously about this and do the sensible thing and DONT DRIVE until you have been treated.

[bazmoore]

my experience of dealing with the dvla re a medical condition is that they are very slow to do anything

i was told not to drive an lgv until i had been treated however after the treatment it took several weeks for the dvla to make a decision re my fitness to drive again.

i was on the phone to them every day chasing them up.

baz

[mushroom25]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/72 59669.stm

[divlong]

Thanks, all, for your replies.

Norman - I appreciate what you are trying to say, in your usual melodramatic fashion, but you seem to have little idea of what the condition entails. This is not Narcolepsy we're talking about. This is a tendency to feel tired owing to inadequate sleep, not to drop off from one moment to the next without warning. And it is reckoned that around 2% of the adult population suffer from it to some degree.

I've been driving with this condition most of my life without incident but now that it's been diagnosed there is a chance I could have my license suspended. This seems silly because you are more likely to have an accident if unaware of the condition - as in the link so kindly supplied by mushroom - in which it states that there is plenty of warning of tiredness and that it should be easy to take preventative action (i.e. stop and have a rest - good advice at any time). I have no sympathy for people who drive while over-tired.

I myself only do necessary trips, keeping them as short as possible and making sure I am well-rested beforehand. I also try to avoid night-driving as much as possible.

It seems very much a case of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted! Awareness of the condition reduces the likelihood of problems and effective treatment takes only a couple of weeks so why bother to suspend the license.

Incidentally, no-one has suggested that I need to contact my insurance company. There were no medical questions on the original application either.

Baz, that is what I suspected. Quick to take it away and slow to restore it.

Thanks

Duncan

[NORMANTHEDOG]

melodramatic,well im glad you find it funny,because one things for sure,you have been diagnosed,advised to tell the dvla,and because you havent,your insurance will now be invalid,because you havent told them of the change in your health,lets hope you get stopped and banned,for being such a idiot.

[bednobs]

even if there wasn't a medical question on your insurance (i find that odd because i'm in the process of renewing mine at the moment and without exception they have all asked me if i have any dvla reportable medical conditions) you should inform them of any change. i appreciate you dont see this as a change but in fact you now have a diagnosis, which is a change. Yu shoukld report now to the dvla as it has been recommended by your consultant, who after all has a lot more varied experience in this illness than you

[tubeway]

I have OSA - and I was probably much more of a danger before I was diagnosed and treated than afterwards. Inform the DVLA and by the time the paperwork goes through (including writing to your sleep centre) you will be on treatment anyway.

Good Luck

[bazmoore]

bednobs
the question related to informing the DVLA not the insurance co!