I am looking for advice on the driving rules around ICDs.
In middle of last month I suffered a cardiac arrest. After 5 days in CCU consultant decided to implant CRT-D (pacemaker/defibrillator) device. Now, I am aware I am banned from driving for 6 months. But when do I inform DVLA. Now? But that means I’m unable to give accurate info on form Or, in say 3/4 months time giving them time to process my form and issue whatever authorisation they need to in time for me to drive again in 6 months. As you can imagine I am feeling the strain of not having the freedom of my car and don’t want to waste a single day after the 6 month ban time, if you see what I mean.
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Swalecliffe88
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Good evening who told you no driving for six months, when I had my CRT-D implant in 2020 the hospital recommended that I didn’t drive for one month. I informed DVLA and my insurance and there wasn’t a problem.
The six month rule applies due to having had a cardiac arrest not having the CRT-D implanted.
Three years ago this week I suffered an out of hospital cardiac arrest, luckily the shopping centre I was in had bought a Defibrillator on the Friday as I suffered the arrests on the Sunday. I lost my licence for six months and had to have a form signed off by the cardiologist to apply to have my licence reinstated.
Yes Wire57 I had very similar out of hospital cardiac arrest. I understand about the 6 months and the reapplying via the dvla form. I am just trying to find out when I need to tell them. I.e. at start of six months or anytime during the six months. Then when is the best time to begin getting the form filled in as getting a consultant/doctor to even speak to you takes weeks now let alone the arduous task for them to dane to find the time to write a letter for you.
I got the forms early and on my 5 month visit to the cardiologist he signed it off but post dated it so I could only send it in two weeks before the six months was up. If you surrendered your licence rather than being asked to return it there are different rules. On the DVLA website (section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988) there is something about if you voluntarily surrendered your license, have waited six months, application been signed by the cardiologist and the application has been sent you are able to resume driving. This is worth looking into as this is how I resumed driving as due to covid my application took over three months to be processed.
I had 2 x HT and 4x CABG and thought I wouldn’t be able to drive for ages but I didn’t need to tell the dvla but my surgeon said 3 months minimum after open heart surgery, he was right even now 17 weeks on it still hurts to turn the wheel.
I had a similar operation to you and started driving again after 7 weeks but it was very sporadic at first and I chose the route to avoid too many junctions or parking in awkward positions.
I found wearing a padded gilet to be very helpful when driving as it completely absorbs the strain of the seat belt. If possible I still try to avoid awkward parking that involves constant turning.
Hi Devonian, you've got that the wrong way round. You absolutely do need to tell the DVLA, I don't think you have to tell your insurers but it's a good idea to tell them, that way they can never say we didn't know, but you're right they should not increase your premiums, excess, impose terms, etc. Because the OP had his fitted due to a cardiac event he will be unable to drive for 6 months.
Hello. I had to notify DVLA when I got a crt-d. They said no driving for one month if it was fitted for ‘purely prophylactic reasons’ but otherwise it’s 6 months from the date it was put in. Hope this helps.
The rules are very clear, if it’s fitted after an event then no driving for 6 months and you have to inform DVLA straight away. You can do this by letter or on form DEFIB1
hi I only had to surrender my license after my ICD fired . I informed them online and they sent me a letter to be filled in by my consultant at six months to confirm I was fit to drive again. I had to send my license to the DVLA, after 5 months I gave the letter to my consultant which he duly sent to them but it was 7 months by the time I got my license back. Char
Hi Swalecliff88, I belong to an ICD support group and they always advise people to surrender their licence rather than have it taken away, apparently it's easier to get your licence back if it's been surrendered. I don't know how you go about this but if you're on Facebook the closed group is called ICD support-UK, I always highly recommend them, they're brilliant for support and advice. Good luck
oh thanks yes heard of that group I will join. Just wanted to know when best to get consultant letter sent in as not driving is really stressful. Thank you again.
Hi, it's my husband who has the ICD & fortunately he's not had to surrender his licence so far, so I can't really answer your question but I'm sure someone on that group will know the answer. 🤞
I had a cardiac arrest 15 months ago and an ICD fitted the hospital should have told you not to drive for 6 months you should tell DVLA you can do it online who then suspend your licence and you need to reapply when the consultant has signed your form that DVLA send to you. I you should tell your insurance company and they don't increase your premium.
There is a great site on Facebook called sudden cardiac arrest who give some great help.
The only thing I would add to already excellent advice is on completing your DVLA form take a copy as you may have to re apply at a later date and to have a copy is so helpful
from my own experience, if you have a sudden cardiac arrest and need resuscitation outside hospital it's a 6.months revoke on your driving licence .... and the hospital automatically informs the dvla ,( we received a letter of the dvla while my hubby was still in the hospital getting treatment) that's how quick they were .if you don't lose consciousness ,or have a icd fitted as I'd say through an appointment it's only a 1month revoke .... this is how I put it, the dvla won't even open your application and forms untill a complete 6months have past .... we got ours back 7months after my husbands SCA. .but send all the necessary documents of 1month before .so they have them in time ....we actually faxed ours ..as well as sending paper documents, kind of doubled up so if they list one lot they still had another .....
My license was actually revoked for 6 months after my ICD. I suggest you fill in the form as much as possible, leaving bits blank where you cannot answer. If there are a lot of gaps, attach a covering letter explaining why. They will then send you a letter for your cardiologist to sign in 6 months.
HI, I've got an ICD and I did the paperwork when I was discharged from hospital. Initially it was 6 months and I've been subsequently told that if the ICD goes off it's six months, for a box change its two weeks to let the wound heal. It doesn't seem to impact the DVLA or insurance as it's voluntary. The cardiologist is only involved when you reapply to get it back.
hi I had a cardiac arrest in hospital in the summer due to a loading dose of digoxin. I hat a CRTD fitted as have heart failure, LBBB and afib. I rang and informed the DVLA and wrote in the form that my consultant said no driving for 6 months. I got a letter back Saturday saying I can drive so I rang today to query it and they said yes I can drive. I have however left a message for the pacing team to query this and ask if they think I’m fit to drive as I think the DVLA are wrong 🤷♀️. Waiting to hear back. As I sent paper copies in I didn’t have to surrender my licence as I understand it’s quicker than waiting on it.
hello Mollykin. Thank you for your reply. I think you’ll find it is your medical people who are wrong and it is only one month you had to refrain from driving. This is because it was not a heart problem but an external problem that caused you to arrest. I unfortunately arrested while walking my dog and so implant was because of heart malfunction, which is a different set of DVLA rules.
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Completely beat physically and emotionally
DVLA driving decision
completely overwelmed
Dressler’s syndrome, a form of pericarditis 
