Driving buses with AF

[TheKnitter]

Hi all hope you are all well, just a little rant from me, I was diagnosed with AF in Sept informed DVLA as I am a bus driver, they said I could keep driving unless I heard from them differently. Received a letter yesterday telling me that they are revoking my licence as from tomorrow I can drive a car but not a bus, don't get me wrong I do understand why, but don't understand why they didn't revoke when I informed them and they have let me drive a bus for two months now I am unfit to do so. Just feel really down and hoping employer can find me something that is non driving till I can apply for it back, otherwise feel that I am on the scrap heep 😢

[Hidden]

We understand your concern TheKnitter and for what it is worth, there are members on the forum who drove and continue to drive with a PSV licence. Hopefully they will pick up on your post but Sunday is often not the best day so it might help you if you post again during the week.....

[BobD Volunteer]

It is quite normal for your PSV or HGV license to be revoked when you are first diagnosed and I really do not understand why it was not done at the start. Usually after six months if you have not had any collapses one can apply to get it back depending on medical report but Carneuney who is a bus driver may answer that soon.

The advice to drivers on DVLA website is quite clear on this. If you have AF and are PSV or HGV you MUST NOT drive. Private car drivers are only excluded if they are distracted or incapacitated by their AF but must still report it also to insurance company or may be uninsured.

[Hidden]

Hi TheKnitter,

Yeah, I'm one of those with a PCV.

What I'm gonna say is applicable to me in the first quarter of 2010. I was diagnosed with AF on 6 Jan 2010 and after diagnosis and treatment started I was placed back in the care of my GP by my Consultant. My GP told me straight away no bus driving but OK with car. I then formally notified DVLA and authorised them to discuss my case with my GP. I also told my GP that I had done this.

It was a case then of sitting and waiting and seeing what happened with my AF.

Basically, on 12 January I got a letter from DVLA asking me to complete a medical questionannaire and return it to them so they could make further enquiries. HOWEVER, at this point DVLA had not put me off the road, only my GP.

Back in the day I could not drive a bus again until it was proved that my condition was controlled for 3/12 - 3 months. I returned to bus driving early April that year, however, I did return to work earlier than that. The company I worked for at the time had a large number of school run contracts and I was transferred to the role of escort (on my bus drivers pay) on the bus supervising school primary children, that was about at the 8 week mark.

Frankly, initially I was so bloody awful I didn't feel like doing anything but sleeping anyway.

In those days I was aged 65.

I am now 74 and still drive a bus 30 hours (sometimes 40) a week. I have to have a medical each year ( nothing to do with my AF, an age requirement) . I have to prove my AF is controlled and this is no problem, in fact I have just had my PCV renewed for another year. Apart from one small incident of AF in February this year which lasted about 5 hours, I've had no AF since April 2015.

I do stress that this was back in 2010. Remember, since then, in the coaching industry and HGV industry there have been a number of deaths and injuries caused by those vehicle drivers ignoring medical requirements, or making false medical statements. So, naturally DVLA have had to tighten up, medical wise.

DVLA aren't exactly the most competent government authority but also it maybe that they are/have been waiting for a report from your consultant/GP. Really though, I am surprised your GP and/or consultant didn't put you off the road straight away, as happened with me.

At the time I was employed by First Group in the Berks/Surrey area and to their eternal credit they were very supportive of me and inasmuch as they could didn't obstruct my return to work, so long as I got clearance. Maybe they carried their own insurance. I don't know who you are with but I wonder who your firms insurers are. If you are in a union it might be an idea to discuss this with your local Union Rep.

When I did return to work I drove in the company of a senior driver for a while for that guy to report to management on my driving and how I related to the school kids and their parents on the route I was on.

Anyhow, tha'ts it ..... if you have any questions just put something on here or click on my name (carneuny) which will take you to a bit where you can send me a private message.

May the force be with you.

John

[TheKnitter]

Thank you for your replies, as I said I do understand why just not why they took two months after diagnosis to do it I am now on medication for AF and am constantly in AF but no light headedness only breathlessness when I talk a lot or do something strenuous, unfortunately I only work for a holiday park, therefore if they have nothing non driving that I can do for the next I don't know how long I will be unemployed, and that I am not looking forward to. On a brighter not at least I have me health to a certain degree.

Thanks for reading just feeling abit down at the moment.