DVLA and Defibrillator questionaire.

[ChasNick]

D V L A form DEFiBI Just been trying to fill in this form. To me it does not make sense.

!. Has the Def: been fitted solely for preventative resons. ie: have NOT you yet suffered a disturbance of heart rhythum but considered at risk of having one..

the form gives yes or no. I have had two (2)in the past 8 months. the DEF: has now been fitted to try and stop it happening again

Thanks

[CRTD]

You have had a disturbance so the answer is no, it was not fitted as purely preventative. This will mean you can’t drive for 6 months. Return your licence voluntarily otherwise it will be revoked. After 6 months you can drive while reapplying if you voluntarily surrendered it. If it’s revoked you have to wait till you get your licence back and that can take months

[EMBoy]

Perhaps you should contact your cardiologist and ask. The DVLA will probably check with him/her anyway before making their decision.

[exhillwalker]

Good afternoon, having been through the ICD/DVLA process in the past year my experience may be helpful:

- Nov 2021 during pacemaker check informed I had survived a cardiac arrest 3 weeks earlier, ( I thought I had a dizzy/fainting episode ! ) Admitted direct to cardiology unit, advised upgrade p/maker to ICD, stop driving for 6/12 & notify DVLA, given DEFIB1, submitted to Swansea

-Eventually received reply confirming 6/12 ban, instructing me to return d/licence. Also sent me form D1 new licence application & Consdec form for completion by cardiologist.

- April 2022 returned completed D1 to Swansea.

-May 2022 spoke to consultant's sec re consdec form which I then posted to her.

- On completion of 6/12 ban (late May) contacted medical sec who pushed the form up the priority line, signed form received 3 days later ( incredible ! ) Consdec form mailed to Swansea immediately.

- Settled down for expected interminable wait, but planned to give it 6/52 before taking action.

- July 2022 on hottest recorded day, secluded in darkened room, bashed out draft email to my MP enquiring if she could obtain information from DVLA as to when I could expect a new licence. The draft was so damn good that I hit the send button pronto ! , MP acknowledged same day.

- Two days later email from MP, with apologetic attachment from DVLA complaints dept, advising me that new licence in the post.

I should add that during this period I have had no further pacing/ICD related issues, that all communications with Swansea have been accompanied by polite letter referencing case & licence no, also sent under recorded delivery.

Also make a point of becoming very familiar with the relevant parts of the DVLA website.

Best wishes

-

[ChasNick in reply to exhillwalker]

Thanks Hillwalker. DVLA have always had a bad name.

[exhillwalker]

The point of my lengthy reply being the widely reported backlog ( circa + 250,000 ) of "driving licence applications by people with medical issues" ... waiting times of 1 year not unusual.I seriously expected that my licence would not be issued before October/November & suspect had I not reached out to my MP I would still be waiting.

Good luck