Sleep Apnea & Driving license

Diagro said:
The 6 month wait for a cpap is ridiculous. So that's why I've bought my own. I'm just waiting for the GP to get the diagnosis through. Then I'll fill in the DVLA forms with a letter from my GP attached saying I have the CPAP machine. That should hopefully stop them stealing my license.
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They may take exception to you driving before you inform them, they may also want you to go through the NHS system to get the CPAP machine.

Like I said I was only being monitored for glaucoma and had put it down in the "other " part of the form, not the "I have glaucoma" box. Didn't matter either that the hospital consultant had said my eyes hadn't changed in 5yrs of being under him.

Where do you drive, so we can avoid you?
Do you drive a company vehicle?
 
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tonys said:
They may take exception to you driving before you inform them, they may also want you to go through the NHS system to get the CPAP machine.

Like I said I was only being monitored for glaucoma and had put it down in the "other " part of the form, not the "I have glaucoma" box. Didn't matter either that the hospital consultant had said my eyes hadn't changed in 5yrs of being under him.

Where do you drive, so we can avoid you?
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The Dr said I could buy my own if I wished to bypass the waiting list. So I made sure to buy the exact same device. With a better mask I might add.

Saving the NHS some funds too hah.
 
Lopéz said:
My team mate who used to sit on the desk next to me was killed by a truck driver with undeclared sleep apnea who fell asleep at the wheel and drove straight through her car.

He didn't declare it because he thought he would lose his job.
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Wowzers.
That's mental that a truck driver who's driving for many hours a day would not declare it.
 
Diagro said:
How is it?
I drive a max of 10mins. With absolutely no tiredness symptoms. Completely different scenario.
It's not narcolepsy for heavens sake.
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You have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you have been advised to inform DVLA, yet you don't want to in case you lose your licence. It's immaterial to them what you do or say they have their responsibility to the rest of us.
 
Don't worry OP the DVLA have seen this thread so better to advise them and keep yourself, your family, other road users and the public safe.

Just report it, not worth the risk and potential regret and trouble to come should anything bad happen.
 
I slept on it.
Realised that you all made good points.
So I filled in the form.

I did however add that I have an NHS approved CPAP on its way and will have a letter from the GP made available to them if required to show that the condition is managed. Who knows if they will read that bit...
 
Diagro said:
I slept on it.
Realised that you all made good points.
So I filled in the form.

I did however add that I have an NHS approved CPAP on its way and will have a letter from the GP made available to them if required to show that the condition is managed. Who knows if they will read that bit...
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They will want to have proof from the machine I think that you are actually getting over 6 hrs uninterrupted sleep for a length of time. Can't remember what the SA nurse told me when I had the test done but she said that they didn't like the GP's diagnosing the condition before they had done the test.
 
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Diagro said:
I slept on it.
Realised that you all made good points.
So I filled in the form.

I did however add that I have an NHS approved CPAP on its way and will have a letter from the GP made available to them if required to show that the condition is managed. Who knows if they will read that bit...
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Good luck bud. You must feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.


I understand what everyone is saying here - they’re very good points.


But easy to say from the outside. Once you’re the person who faces the dilemma of potentially losing your license, I imagine it all changes.
 
MrRockliffe said:
Good luck bud. You must feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.


I understand what everyone is saying here - they’re very good points.


But easy to say from the outside. Once you’re the person who faces the dilemma of potentially losing your license, I imagine it all changes.
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It's hard yes, but you can get around it. I lost mine for about 6 months due to the wife saying at a consultation for my AF that I nodded at the wheel once when coming back off holiday at least 2yrs previous. I had to get the bus up to work and rely on my kid's and their partners to get me to various places( no longer dad's taxi for a while)

Note to self Don't take the wife to consultations again.
 
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Without wanting to dogpile in, notify the DVLA and deal with it.

If you don't, you're potentially utterly screwed if anything happens that requires the DVLA, Police or Insurance company to look at you closely as they'll be able to find out exactly when you knew you had a notifiable condition and started knowingly ignoring the conditions of your licence. That's a much bigger problem for pretty much everything from future driving to insurance cover for anything and employment than potentially being told to not drive for a few months.

If you're only driving for 10 minutes at a time, then chance are you can make alternate arrangements with relative ease, as that suggests fairly short distances.

My father had major eye issues and was on a restricted/short licence from about 40, he actually gave his licence up at about 60 because in his words "I didn't want to be like Sam*" who was our slightly older neighbour who was driving against doctors advice and IIRC had something like 5 minor accidents in a couple of years (not to mention driving at about 15mph in 30 limits).

I had to notify the DVLA about a condition I have that was potentially borderline for DVLA medical/restrictions, once I realised it was possible I didn't mess around but contacted them knowing they could have removed my licence, fortunately they just asked a few questions, confirmed I hadn't been told by a doctor to not drive and told me to contact them again if it changed.



*Not his real name, nice guy but determined not to give up his licence despite being advised by multiple doctors that he shouldn't be driving. He didn't have any one problem that specifically legally was notifiable, he was "just" old, doddery and with very poor and worsening reaction times, and struggling with the wheel etc (the sort of "old driver" that was an issue as the doctors had to balance their responsibility to his privacy vs a potential issue that wasn't legally clear cut).
 
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tonys said:
It's hard yes, but you can get around it. I lost mine for about 6 months due to the wife saying at a consultation for my AF that I nodded at the wheel once when coming back off holiday at least 2yrs previous. I had to get the bus up to work and rely on my kid's and their partners to get me to various places( no longer dad's taxi for a while)

Note to self Don't take the wife to consultations again.
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Sometimes you can get around it, yes. But not everyone’s circumstances allow for relying on kids/other half/family/friends/public transport.


Either way, it could have a massive impact on OPs life, and so I empathise with the decision he has had to make.
 
Diagro said:
Yo,

Just been diagnosed with a pretty bad case of Sleep Apnea. Need a CPAP etc.

Been told (Advised) i need to tell the DVLA... when I enquired what will happen, the doctor said they would very likely revoke my License based on my test results. Only to be re-instated when i have a CPAP machine and have shown positive results... (3 months wait for an appointment... 6 months for the machine...)

My question.. has anyone else been diagnosed with this? And did you bother advising the DVLA?

I simply cannot have my license revoked... I'd likely lose my job and other personal family issues would arise.

(By the way, I'm not tired all the time, nore do I fall asleep driving)
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A CPAP machine of the standard the NHS use is about 500 quid, which feels like a far better option than waiting 9 months?


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Diagro said:
The 6 month wait for a cpap is ridiculous. So that's why I've bought my own. I'm just waiting for the GP to get the diagnosis through. Then I'll fill in the DVLA forms with a letter from my GP attached saying I have the CPAP machine. That should hopefully stop them stealing my license.
[/QUOTE

Makes more sense.

I cant understand how something as simple as this can have a 6 month wait, surely they just need to allow them to be provided by pharmacies on prescription or something?
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