GP wanting to report high liver blood test results to DVLA

[OfftowalktheCamino]

Hi. This is my first post and I would be grateful of any advice or your experience in relation to this.

My husband has been a heavy drinker (evenings and weekends) for a number of years. Blood tests in October showed high levels re health of his liver (not sure of all of the names) and subsequently he had an ultrasound of his liver which showed it was enlarged - as was his spleen. He has since made the decision to stop drinking and has engaged with a local service who are supporting him with a plan to reduce and then stop drinking, which was a huge step for him to take. As he has private health care through his job he has an appt with a gastroenterologist who also specialises in liver issues - this is next week.

Meantime the GP had requested further blood tests recently which also showed levels above healthy range and the GP told my husband he wants to report this to the DVLA. My husband explained that he has just started his plan to reduce and stop his alcohol use. The GP has agreed to wait a couple of months, repeat the tests and if still high will definately contact them.

Can anyone advise if they have experienced this? It would be a shame at this stage if this does happen if he is able to stop drinking.

Thank you and sorry for the lengthy post.

[RugbyMama]

I think you could give the British Liver Trust helpline a call on this one however I believe if your GP knows that a patient is accessing support to reduce alcohol consumption or on medication to stop them using alcohol they have a duty of care to report to DVLA. This does not mean that they will have their licence revoked but may mean their licence is issued for a shorter length of time or they are subject of regular reviews. It is really important that this occurs because if you don't report a change in health circumstances to the DVLA and then you are involved in an accident, it can render your insurance null and void.

My husband was diagnosed with diabetes requiring insulin last year and had to report this to the DVLA. One form, and they will only issue his driving licence for 3 years blocks. It was very straightforward.

[OfftowalktheCamino in reply to RugbyMama]

Thank you for your reply and advice

[BritishLiverTrust6 Moderator British Liver Trust in reply to RugbyMama]

Thank you RugbyMama for signposting to our helpline. As mentioned, if you are in the UK and would find it useful to talk things over, our nurse-led helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm on 0800 652 7330 (excluding bank holidays)

Best wishes

British Liver Trust

[Yvopea]

when my husband was drinking (he stopped 10 years ag due to cirrhosis) his gp told me the DVLA should be informed but that he couldn’t do it due to patient confidentiality rules and that I would have to. I didn’t because he stopped but might be worth you looking into the rules

[OfftowalktheCamino in reply to Yvopea]

Thank you - I’ll definately explore further

[Shep666]

Hey they can report - but only in extreme cases. All the info you need is

gmc-uk.org/professional-sta...

Hope that helps

[OfftowalktheCamino in reply to Shep666]

Thank you - I’ll have a look at that

[Grassroots112]

Hmmm that doesn’t sound right, a doctor surely cannot be giving out personal information to another organisation, I would seek clarification on that and speak to the doctors surgery itself, someone higher up if possible, sounds like a breach of patient confidentiality. Imagine if they did that with everyone who goes to the doctors who likes a drink, even moderately.

As long as there is no drink driving it shouldn’t be anyone’s business, least of all a doctors. I get it when doctors disclose information to social services and other health organisations when it comes to children or the elderly, but what business does your doctor have in informing the DVLA that a patient drinks basically? The whole country does…

[OfftowalktheCamino in reply to Grassroots112]

Thank you for your reply. My husband had originally seen a different GP who had been very supportive and encouraging. However as she wasn’t in surgery for his next appt he saw this other GP who just seemed focused on this driving license issue and berating him for all the health implications his drinking would have, implying he has brought it on himself by choosing to drink. Sadly a very negative experience this time round.

[Grassroots112 in reply to OfftowalktheCamino]

Thats shocking, a doctor shouldn't judge someone at all, I would make a complaint.

[Shep666 in reply to Grassroots112]

To be fair the examples you quote - children and the elderly also fall under the same guidelines of "in the interest of the patients and public safety". I make no judgement about this poster, but I know from personal experience that drinking can have a serious effect on the publics safety I F the person doesn't take responsibility for their actions behind a wheel. And to be fair where a liver condition is concerned they may well be affected by HE which can have a serious effect on ones ability to drive. It is the patients responsibility to report to the DVLA their inability to drive safely, but if the doctor thinks in SERIOUS cases the patient isn't keeping themselves or others safe he/she too has a duty of care to report it.

So its not a case he /she just reports that you drink, i agree that is NOT a serious enough case to warrant that reporting. If the doctor did so under those circumstances then they should be reported and the BMA will take the action. The guidelines are very clear as to when a doctor should act. This is not a nanny state and we have freedoms - but we also have responsibilities.

[Grassroots112 in reply to Shep666]

Oh I agree regarding public safety that in some extreme cases a doctor should be able to share some information with other organisations, but only with the consent of the patient and even then I needs to be more than a case of patient a is a known drinker, must inform DVLA. Half the country drinks. Should every doctor just be allowed to inform the DVLA, what next our employers? Our parents? I’m being facetious I know. .

I just don't feel easy as an U.K. citizen about doctors just giving out personal information to any other organisation like that. If I drive a HGV for example and was a known drinker to my doctor, I don’t think it’s any of his or her business regarding the DVLA, that should come down to me as an individual in terms of my own responsibility and perhaps my employer. And I’d argue this is a nanny state in many ways, but let’s not get into any political debate ha ha.

[Roy1955]

Firstly that GP has overstepped their authority in saying they will inform DVLA.Change GP, refuse to be seen by this one!

They first advise the patient does not drive and the patient informs DVLA.

Cirrhosis or blood tests don't have to be reported but if he is being treated for HE or being given meds (other than lactulose) to prevent HE it's reportable.

Check the private insurance does not exclude alcohol and drug related illnesses, many do as I found out to my cost.

Hopefully it's not excluded.

If it's covered consider onward referral to a hepatolagist.

Also check if it covers residential rehab.

I went down the cutting down route at local services on and off for 10 years, it did not work for me.

Then I found a free service called CGL.

They do all methods and helped me decide to do an at home supervised detox preceeded and followed by months of counceling and support..

7 years sober next week!

Google CGL (Change Grow Live) or Addaction for your area.

[Grassroots112 in reply to Roy1955]

Congrats on the 7 years that’s amazing, I’m coming up 12 months soon and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, I went to a local (I’m in the U.K.) alcohol and drug rehab place during my drinking and after I left hospital.

But to be honest as great as the people were it wasn’t for me and I felt I was wasting their time as I knew after my health scare I’d never drink again and there are people out there who needed their services far more than me in what is already an underfunded and under resourced organisation. Like most of these organisations are.

I am still to this day though, able to just pop in for a chat or pick up the phone which is amazing, and recently someone rang me from there even though I’ve long been discharged just to ask how I’m doing, most of those wonderful people are volunteers often doing so while battling with their own addictions themselves.

[OfftowalktheCamino in reply to Roy1955]

Great advice - thanks. 7 years sober next week - what an amazing achievement!

[OfftowalktheCamino in reply to Roy1955]

Thanks for your advice - I’ll def look up CGL. So glad it helped you - 7 years sober is amazing!

[Jaytyson]

i had similar when prescribed opiate medication. the gp said dvla had to be informed but also said i needed to do it. i then had similar chat with another gp at same surgery who said they would do it if i ddnt but they never did . i believe they wont personally but id also change practices if they continued to threat it. its an unecessary hassle if it was followed up eh.

[DaveQ67]

hi,

My work asked me to inform the DVLA of my self reported alcohol misuse for compliance reasons. I wished I resigned instead.

A GP or Police CAN instruct you to inform the DVlA of concerns of this and them alone.

My licence was then revoked 2 years ago. I still don’t have it back. I have appealed at court unsuccessfully.

Firstly I got a time served 6 month revoked. Then all of a sudden a 12 month ban. Still No idea why!!!! It is something I will be pursuing once I get my licence back.

It cost me my job! I unknowingly had cirrhosis and was diagnosed 2 weeks before getting it back then had to serve an additional 12 month ban which is ending June.

The DVLA are black and white no common sense adopted. If blood levels indicate alcohol consumption your GP can instruct you to inform them.

Sorry for the grim post. Hopefully you get a better outcome than myself

[OfftowalktheCamino in reply to DaveQ67]

Thank you for your message. Sorry to hear what happened about your driving licence and the impact on your job!