DVLA delusion with NHS waiting times.

[Pentwhistle]

Several years ago I had an angioplasty (stent insertion) in Malaysia as a medical tourist. I rarely use NHS preferring to use medical tourism for fast, competent medical care without the ridiculous delays in the NHS system. I am almost totally deaf from an NHS wait list at age 5 waiting for years for medical care for a mastoid in my inner ear from Measles. 3 years later my parents emigrated to South Africa where finally I had the surgery needed, with the degraded remains of my inner ear. I have nothing but contempt for the NHS and in recent years nothing has happened to change that view.

Cue a need to renew my C1 licence. Paid for a 3rd party UK medical screening and now DVLA have sent me a letter demanding a 14 day review of my medical condition. The later dated 8th of Jan 25 actually only got delivered 4 days ago. They demand that any medical information has to come from a UK doctor within the 14 days or my licence cancelled. What kind of drugs are they smoking? less than 10 days to have a GP appointment and offer stress test results? In Malaysia where I have medical care in can be done in one day via multiple consultants at a very economical rate. The irony is every Malaysian specialist has graduated and completed their practical in the UK, but critically they are NOT recognised by the DVLA.

As any UK motorhomer, anywhere managed to meet a 14 day timeline?

 

[nicholsong]

I do not know why they spcified a UK doctor. They accept any European qualified doctor to complete the D4 medical form for C1 - C licence. I have had my last 4 D4 forms for C1 renewal completed by a Polish doctor in Poland, with no queries.

 

[pampam]

I put a one sheet insurance claim form into doctors on xmas eve ,have paid £50 for it and told it could be up to two months(it wasnt ready on friday)

 

[15isto2]

None of your issues with DVLA are NHS contractural services so it’s for either you or DVLA to arrange them.

 

[Minxy]

Paid for a 3rd party UK medical screening

What exactly do you mean by this?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Scotsblood]

I have a feeling the DVLA will want to see a GMC registered Dr's report. It seems non GMC Dr's reports are being routinely 'spot checked' for validity. As a service like this does not fall into the NHS contract you will need to arrange this yourself as a private patient service, your GP may or may not be interested and there will be a fee.

 

[nigelivy]

When I did my HGV class 2 license in 2021, I went to my NHS GP for the medical. I had to pay for the medical out of pocket. At the time it took weeks to get an appointment with the GP for a normal medical appointment (paid for by the NHS), but I could get an appointment same day for the medical for my license, which I had to pay for out of pocket (not covered by the NHS).

Would this not be the case for you as well if you tried your GP?

 

[Nanniemate]

Several years ago I had an angioplasty (stent insertion) in Malaysia as a medical tourist. I rarely use NHS preferring to use medical tourism for fast, competent medical care without the ridiculous delays in the NHS system. I am almost totally deaf from an NHS wait list at age 5 waiting for years for medical care for a mastoid in my inner ear from Measles. 3 years later my parents emigrated to South Africa where finally I had the surgery needed, with the degraded remains of my inner ear. I have nothing but contempt for the NHS and in recent years nothing has happened to change that view.

Cue a need to renew my C1 licence. Paid for a 3rd party UK medical screening and now DVLA have sent me a letter demanding a 14 day review of my medical condition. The later dated 8th of Jan 25 actually only got delivered 4 days ago. They demand that any medical information has to come from a UK doctor within the 14 days or my licence cancelled. What kind of drugs are they smoking? less than 10 days to have a GP appointment and offer stress test results? In Malaysia where I have medical care in can be done in one day via multiple consultants at a very economical rate. The irony is every Malaysian specialist has graduated and completed their practical in the UK, but critically they are NOT recognised by the DVLA.

As any UK motorhomer, anywhere managed to meet a 14 day timeline?

By 3rd party are you talking D4D as many medical issues are refered back to the GP
As you say you pay for treatment you can get a BUPA appointment by paying
Unfortunately as you want a UK licence you have to meet UK requirements.
Please keep us updated as this is an interesting scenario

 

[gus-lopez]

Would this not be the case for you as well if you tried your GP?

I don't think he has one. That is the question I have always asked before.What do you do if they ask for a report from "your doctor" if you have never had one?

 

[stewartwebr]

I don't think he has one. That is the question I have always asked before.What do you do if they ask for a report from "your doctor" if you have never had one?

This opens another can of worms in relation to travel insurance, a lot of U.K. insurers only provide travel insurance cover if you are registered with a U.K. Medical Practice. Getting back to the OPs’ issue, I assume like most Government Service the right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing. Therefore, DVLA has no correlation with NHS around appointment time frames. I would suggest a private GP appointment may be the answer.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

DVLA send out the license renewal pack about 8 weeks before renewal. That includes the D4 medical report. I wonder if Pentwhistle has fallen foul of the need for Class 2 licence holders to meet the enhanced medical standards now they are over 70yo and hasn’t previously informed DVLA of the angioplasty?
https://www.gov.uk/heart-attacks-and-driving gives more insight.

As 15isto2 states, DVLA fitness to drive certification is not a NHS priority. Completion of D4 etc is a private medical

 

[Pentwhistle]

What exactly do you mean by this?

D4D - you pay for medical screening (not an NHS service)

 

[Pentwhistle]

By 3rd party are you talking D4D as many medical issues are refered back to the GP
As you say you pay for treatment you can get a BUPA appointment by paying
Unfortunately as you want a UK licence you have to meet UK requirements.
Please keep us updated as this is an interesting scenario

Correct, I did use D4D and DVLA then called up my local surgery months later, asking about the angioplasty. The usual UK doctor I infrequently see has all the information from my Malaysian cardiologist because of the prescription for follow-up medication when I returned to the UK. The UK doctor however, simply stated that the angioplasty had been done privately. I doubt I would use D4D again, it seems a bit pointless.

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

D4D is cost and time effective for straightforward reports on medical fitness. @Pentwhistle’s problems have most probably arisen because his medical history of angioplasty has flagged up as an exception from normal. I’m presuming Pentwhistle is over 70 and this is his first renewal of C1, and hence first time a D4 has been required?
I’ve held a CE licence for many years, in fact it was a “Class One” and had a small card book, so predates the original folded paper licence. When I had one of my renewal medical, my blood pressure was above the acceptable level, so my CE licence was not renewed until my hypertension was controlled. That condition was basically undetected until that D4 medical, but is now, so I’m thankful for that.
As I stated earlier, D4 medical and any further tests are generally not NHS.

 

[Nanniemate]

D4D is cost and time effective for straightforward reports on medical fitness. @Pentwhistle’s problems have most probably arisen because his medical history of angioplasty has flagged up as an exception from normal. I’m presuming Pentwhistle is over 70 and this is his first renewal of C1, and hence first time a D4 has been required?
I’ve held a CE licence for many years, in fact it was a “Class One” and had a small card book, so predates the original folded paper licence. When I had one of my renewal medical, my blood pressure was above the acceptable level, so my CE licence was not renewed until my hypertension was controlled. That condition was basically undetected until that D4 medical, but is now, so I’m thankful for that.
As I stated earlier, D4 medical and any further tests are generally not NHS.

D4D medical issues are referred often no matter what your age. It is not a medical but a form completion. DVLA are well aware of this and often ask for further information from GP as they know patients full history and not 'just' what they tell the D4D

DVLA have previous information from original application to the 5 yearly from age of 45.

Sometimes it may not be consistent. A recent application took 9 months as all medical records were checked. The applicant was in early 30s and did not have full adult medical history in UK

However straightforward trackable applications are being issued within weeks

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DuxDeluxe]

D4D medical issues are referred often no matter what your age. It is not a medical but a form completion. DVLA are well aware of this and often ask for further information from GP as they know patients full history and not 'just' what they tell the D4D

DVLA have previous information from original application to the 5 yearly from age of 45.

Sometimes it may not be consistent. A recent application took 9 months as all medical records were checked. The applicant was in early 30s and did not have full adult medical history in UK

However straightforward trackable applications are being issued within weeks

I fell foul of them due to a 2006 diagnosis. Basically they thought that I was dead due to a fundamental lack of understanding of a rare medical condition ….. it took months to convince their medical “experts” but got there in the end

 

[Nanniemate]

I fell foul of them due to a 2006 diagnosis. Basically they thought that I was dead due to a fundamental lack of understanding of a rare medical condition ….. it took months to convince their medical “experts” but got there in the end

So they cured you then... what was it like I've waited a long time for someone to come back and tell me

You must have been.plessed

 

[carolyn]

Outside cities it used to be really difficult to see a private GP and if you could find one they didn’t necessarily communicate well with your NHS one. Things are very different now. Your NHS GP is not allowed to see their own patients privately , that’s illegal.

In our small town there didn’t used to be any GPs who saw patients privately and then a while before Covid one GP at the bigger practice did and then a 2nd. It meant they could see patients at my old practice privately but not any from their own practice. There’s one now at my old practice. They all know one another, and with the patients permission will communicate results. It works well. Obviously they can see anybody from elsewhere.

They see them at the Private Wing at Yeovil Hospital. Private Hospitals like Nuffield and Spire often have them if you’re struggling to find a decent one.

It’s sad that it’s become necessary.

There will almost certainly be something similar in Pentwhistle area.

This is for the full medical.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

So they cured you then... what was it like I've waited a long time for someone to come back and tell me

You must have been.plessed

If you see a Zombie duck on your travels then be afraid…..be very afraid

 

[Minxy]

I fell fowl of them due to a 2006 diagnosis.

Just corrected that for you!

Basically they thought that I was dead due to a fundamental lack of understanding of a rare medical condition ….. it took months to convince their medical “experts” but got there in the end

You were a dead duck but after peering out from the coffin whilst almost being cremated you've turned into a Peking 'fried' duck!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}