re driving license: Hi Everybody was... - British Heart Fou...

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re driving license

Aquataine profile image
16 Replies

Hi Everybody

was just wondering if anyone can help, my husband was diagnosed with AF & associated heart failure (which seems to have resolved fingers crossed). He has to renew his license as it is 10 years since last one, does he have to declare his AF? He has never passed out or anything was just quite poorly till stabilized and is feeling really quite well now. Have had a look on medical declaration on D1 form and it is not mentioned

Many thanks in anticipation

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Aquataine profile image
Aquataine
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16 Replies
Midgeymoo17 profile image
Midgeymoo17

You must tell DVLA about your arrhythmia if one of the following applies:

you have distracting or disabling symptoms

your arrhythmia has caused or might cause incapacity

Atrial Fibrillation is a form of arrhythmia so if either of those could potentially apply then the answer is yes he must. Honestly, it s probably better to declare than not. If they consider it insignificant they will issue another 10 year licence, if not they might issue a shorter one (1/2/3 years). They only revoke them if their is clear reason to do so- this is coming from some who has had a black out in the past and was allowed to drive 6 months after despite continuing investigations.

Aquataine profile image
Aquataine in reply toMidgeymoo17

Trouble is on the D1 form it is not mentioned so there is nothing to tick, I suppose I could phone

Midgeymoo17 profile image
Midgeymoo17 in reply toAquataine

The form should be the H1 Form sent with the D1 form.

Midgeymoo17 profile image
Midgeymoo17 in reply toMidgeymoo17

gov.uk/arrhythmia-and-driving

BathOnion profile image
BathOnion

What is an AF?

Aquataine profile image
Aquataine in reply toBathOnion

Atrial Fibrillation sorry

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toBathOnion

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common abnormal heart rhythm that happens when electrical impulses fire off from different places in the atria (the top chambers of the heart) in a disorganised way. This causes the atria to twitch, and is felt as an irregular heartbeat or pulse.

sturon profile image
sturon

This is the form to send to the DVLA.

assets.publishing.service.g...

Be warned they are very slow to reply, my partner had his licence revoked and we are now 5 months on since he reapplied. So in all he will be without a licence for over a year. They said he could drive again after 6 months but the medical division of the DVLA have still to make a decision.

It's unlikely they will revoke his licence but you must still tell them. Remember to tell your insurance company too.

Best wishes Ron.

Alison_L profile image
Alison_L in reply tosturon

Ugh. thanks for that Sturon. I'm 4 months into a 6 month revocation after having an icd fitted for VT. Someone on here said they got in touch with their MP to get things moving.

Grayjay profile image
Grayjay

I don't think that it would affect his license but best to check with GP.

ajaxer profile image
ajaxer

You do not have to declare AF.

I had to declare and i had to surrender my licence because of AF as i feel faint and dizzy during episodes quite often with vomiting and diarrhea, i couldn't bare the thought of having an episode whilst driving and hurting either myself or someone else. It can be reviewed in a year if i have been ok for a specific period of time.

Hi, when I was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation I contacted the dvla and asked if this would hinder me from driving? The person I spoke to said no unless ep or doctors advised otherwise.

pottypete1 profile image
pottypete1

I saw my EP Cardiologist 2 weeks ago and asked the question.

My hospital is a leading Cardiac Treatment Centre.

My EP said that you only need to advise the DVLA if it affects your ability to drive. He went on to say that they do not routinely tell patients that this is necessary.

However we are all different and therefore the best option is for your husband to contact his EP and seek his opinion and ask for this to be confirmed in writing if he needs further assurance.

Pete

Hullensian profile image
Hullensian

I read this post after reading a later one re AF and the DVLA, so I won't reiterate what I said, but just say I have experience of the DVLA and the time it takes for them to make a decision and that they are a "law unto themselves". Quite a few years ago I had some "funny" turns and was referred to a Neurologist and that started the "rabbits running". Suffice to say, I was put on a temporary 3 year licence, then another temporary 3 year licence as the DVLA had interpreted the Neurologist's responses as epilepsy. After the 6 years and my continual protests to them that I did not have epilepsy, they decided to consult my GP, sending him a form listing questions regarding my epilepsy. The DVLA kept informing me that as far as they were concerned, they had put "put" epilepsy and that was it! No arguments! I walked into the GP's consulting room, he went off to the office for the form, and as he was walking back into the room, he informed me he had checked my health records, that I did not have / had never had epilepsy and he was refusing to complete the form as the questions were a nonsense, that he didn't care what the "lasw" interpretation was, he was the doctor. He wrote a letter to the DVLA and I got back my licence. Sorry, so long-winded, but just don't accept the DVLA, fight them if you think you have a good case.

Hometerry profile image
Hometerry

I would suspect if he feels well enough to drive then that

should be ok.It useally only applies to truck or bus drivers.

If you feel ok carry on.

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