Medical license

[RandJ20]

Hi all, I’m new to this and wanted to find some other mammas that can maybe give me some clarity?

My story can be seen on my profile.

I have recently received a letter from vehicle licensing to state that because of my psychosis I am required to have a special medical license in order to be able to drive! Did anyone else experience this? I have been off my medication for 4 months now and have been discharged from the perinatal mental health team for 3 months. I’m just wondering where I stand to appeal this? As the vehicle licensing clearly have no education on what postpartum psychosis actually is?

Thankyou!

X

[LucyG18]

Hi, I’m not yet a mamma but thought I could offer my experience. After my episode of psychosis the doctor said I had to tell the dvla. My license was then revoked for approx 6 months and I couldn’t drive, leaving me feeling very isolated and unable to do basic things like do a supermarket shop. When the 6 months was up I think the dvla wrote to me and I had to reapply for my licence, the doctor was required to confirm there was no medical reason why I couldn’t drive which she did. I was issued a temporary 1 year licence. When that was up for renewal again I went through the same process and now have a 3 year licence. I expect this will continue now for the future as unfortunately I have received a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. My care coordinator at the time helped me with all of this, but if you’ve been discharged it sounds like you do have ground to appeal it, I would suggest to speak to your doctor about it perhaps? Hope that helps and you continue in your recovery x

[RandJ20 in reply to LucyG18]

Hi Lucy Thankyou for your reply.

Yes they want me to have a one year license to be reviewed in one year.

I’ll take the license I’m just a bit disappointed about it to be completely honest. I mean the way I see it my condition was only there because of post partum. I would completely understand the licence if I was still having episodes or on medication or had an illness that could suddenly impede on my ability to drive however I don’t think in any trip I’m going to suddenly get pregnant, birth a child and become unwell! At least not on my daily 20 min drive to work anyway (fingers crossed) haha.

You have to laugh about it ey?

I hope you’re ok after your diagnosis.

Always here if you’d like to chat.

X

[Rachel_at_APP Partner APP]

Hello RandJ20,

I'm so sorry to hear that you had PP too. I had it too in 2016, and went on to make a good recovery. I hope you're feeling otherwise well, although I'm sorry to hear about this letter, which I imagine may make me feel a little unsettled if I received it.

I'm sorry to read about the driving licence issue. I don't have any experience of that happening to myself to share I am afraid, but I have heard that others have had similar experience which I hope they may be able to share with you.

Have you taken a look at the Mind website at all? They do have some useful information on driving and mental health which you may like to read? Link below. I wonder if you have any questions whether your GP may also be able to help maybe too?

Take care,

Rachel x

Mind link: mind.org.uk/information-sup...

[RandJ20 in reply to Rachel_at_APP]

Hey RachelI’m great now thanks so much for asking!

Thanks for the link I’ll take a look x

[JL_Klou4 Volunteer]

Hi RandJ20, in my experience I had to tell the DVLA of my psychosis episode which they then reviewed with the help of my doctor. I was told at the time that if you have a 'significant' mental health episode or are admitted to hospital, then you cannot drive for at least 3 months then it is reviewed after that. That was my experience anyway. Since that point, like LucyG18, I now have a 1 year licence that I have to apply for after each year, to check if there is anything to be updated. It does not affect me at all other than the extra bit of paperwork for the DVLA at each renewal!

I hope you get some useful answers on here and hope you are keeping well.

Best wishes

Kirsty x

[RandJ20 in reply to JL_Klou4]

Hey Kirsty,Thankyou so much for replying! Did this affect your insurance at all? I’m scared my insurance is gonna go up having to have a medical license!

Thankyou

Romy

[JL_Klou4 Volunteer in reply to RandJ20]

no it hasnt affected my insurance as far as im aware.

Kirsty x

[RainbowWaterfall]

Hi RandJ20. I went through the same thing and it's so frustrating. I totally get it!

I sent a number of letters to the DVLA medical department appealing the decision and attaching copies of my discharge letter from the perinatal health team. I also asked my psychiatrist from that team to send a letter on my behalf to attest to the fact I had recovered/hadn't been on antipsychotics for months etc. It took a few months of to-ing and fro-ing & took a long time to hear back each time (as I understand that due to Covid, staff are swamped at the DVLA) but they eventually changed their mind and reinstated my license. It was important for me personally to fight this decision but I will say it was quite time consuming so think about it first if you're at all stressed out at the moment Take care xxx

[RandJ20 in reply to RainbowWaterfall]

Hey, thanks for replying! The DVLA already have a letter from my psychiatrist at the perinatal mental health team staying I’m fit to drive/ discharged and no longer on medication but apparently that is not enough evidence and if I want to appeal I have to go through the court?

I feel so discriminated against! I’m a qualified nurse and I’ve been back nursing for 9 months now, surely if I was still affected in anyway I wouldn’t be allowed to practice so I’m more than capable of driving? How frustrating is it !!

I’m unsure of what to do as I really feel strongly about appealing it but going through the court seems ridiculous🙈

Xx

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hello RandJ20

My experience is similar to some already shared, I was advised to notify the DVLA of the psychosis by my psychiatrist I think and didn’t drive for 6 months before they wrote to me to re-apply. I then had 2 X 1 year temporary licences followed by a 3 year temporary licence, before having my full licence renewed, with paperwork sent to me to complete and send back before each licence was due to expire…

It’s very frustrating, it’s just in with ‘psychosis’ with no distinction. To answer your question above, having a temporary licence didn’t affect our car insurance as I don’t think it’s a question that’s asked.

Wishing you all the best,

Jenny x

[RandJ20 in reply to Jenny_at_APP]

Thanks so much for your response Jenny Really appreciate it

Romy x

[Jenny_at_APP Partner in reply to RandJ20]

Hi Romy,

I just wanted to share this link with you in case it’s helpful: rethink.org/advice-and-info...

Best wishes,

Jenny x