How to make a complaint about the DVLA medical assessment process

DVLA Medical - Timescale

Convicted Driver Insurance
RB1984 said:
End of the day…they’re looking out for alcohol misuse…in terms of binging or going over units…you’re on minimal units. They’re not checking to see if you drink or not. Or alcohol dependence…based on your info…there’s no record of that. So no need to worry. They need to base their decision on facts.
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Yes. I said at my medical though that my last drink was 6 units, 6.5 weeks prior to the medical. It was a 30th birthday and was careful as I knew what was coming. But I worry that even say 6 units then will make them class me as a misuser. I think they contacted my GP as I had to tick yes to mental health. Not been on medication since June last year. I just stopped and didn't go back to them for a prescription. I'm just hoping I'm seen as okay through mental health more than anything x
 
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Samilewi said:
Yes. I said at my medical though that my last drink was 6 units, 6.5 weeks prior to the medical. It was a 30th birthday I was at and was careful as I knew what was coming. But I worry that even say 6 units then will make them class me as a misuser. Thei think contacted my GP as I had to tick yes to mental health. Not been on medication since June last year. I just stopped and didn't go back to them for a prescription. I'm just hoping I'm seeing as okay through mental health more than anything x
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6 units is the limit for one singular occasion so you’ll be fine x
 
Hey everyone.
Sorry to jump on. I can't seem to find the make new post button as per the instructions.

So, I was an idiot and blew 97 in dec 21. I got a 2 year ban reduced by 6 months on completion of the course.

I know I need to do a CDT due the amount I blew. 2 things are worrying me..

I have no history of alcohol abuse but I have drank with friends probably about 50 times in the last 18 months... is this going to deem me as a misuser of alcohol?

What level CDT will I be needing to get below? The 0.6? Or the 2.2?

I'm abstaining from alcohol whilst I wait for my letter to arrive letting me know where I can book my CDT..

2nd thing..is the waiting process... I sent my d1 off 2 weeks ago. My ban ends on 28th Sept...how long do you think it will take for the medical letter to arrive and for them to process my results?

Thanks for reading if you've got this far 😙😙
 
Missbee said:
Hey everyone.
Sorry to jump on. I can't seem to find the make new post button as per the instructions.

So, I was an idiot and blew 97 in dec 21. I got a 2 year ban reduced by 6 months on completion of the course.

I know I need to do a CDT due the amount I blew. 2 things are worrying me..

I have no history of alcohol abuse but I have drank with friends probably about 50 times in the last 18 months... is this going to deem me as a misuser of alcohol?

What level CDT will I be needing to get below? The 0.6? Or the 2.2?

I'm abstaining from alcohol whilst I wait for my letter to arrive letting me know where I can book my CDT..

2nd thing..is the waiting process... I sent my d1 off 2 weeks ago. My ban ends on 28th Sept...how long do you think it will take for the medical letter to arrive and for them to process my results?

Thanks for reading if you've got this far 😙😙
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Whatever you do, do not admit to them about 50 odd times you've drank with friends the past 18 months. They will revoke your licence and class you as either a misuser or dependant and you'll have to abstain and prove to your doctor over a period of 6 or 12 months of no drinking before you can apply for your licence again.

You have to get below 1.6 on the CDT to be classed in the 'green zone' and to have passed it. I abstained for 6.5 weeks but still don't know my score. I'll update that once I know.

My ban ran out 15 days ago and I'm still waiting on a decision on my licence. My medical was booked only 10 days before my ban ended (4th August) and ban end was 14th August. I sent off my D1 on 16th May. They wrote to my GP after my medical as I had to tick yes on the DVLA medical questionnaire to having mental health issues (postnatal depression) in the past 3 years. When/if they contact your GP, it prolongs the process hence why I'm still waiting on a decision about my licence.
 
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Samilewi said:
Whatever you do, do not admit to them about 50 odd times you've drank with friends the 18 months. They will revoke your licence and class you as either a misuser or dependant and you'll have to abstain and prove to your doctor over a period of 6 or 12 months of no drinking before you can apply for your licence again.

You have to get below 1.6 on the CDT to be classed in the 'green zone' and to have passed it. I abstained for 6.5 weeks but still don't know my score. I'll update that once I know.

My ban ran out 15 days ago and I'm still waiting on a decision on my licence. My medical was booked only 10 days before my ban ended (4th August) and ban end was 14th August. I sent off my D1 on 16th May. They wrote to my GP after my medical as I had to tick yes on the DVLA medical questionnaire to having mental health issues (postnatal depression) in the past 3 years. When/if they contact your GP, it prolongs the process hence why I'm still waiting on a decision about my licence.
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Thanks so much for replying.

I'm so scared about this medical. I don't drink regularly and I'd say a handful of times I drank over 6units. What should I answer to that question?

I really hope you hear back soon! Fingers crossed it won't be much longer for you. I can't wait to put this nightmare behind me
 
Missbee said:
Thanks so much for replying.

I'm so scared about this medical. I don't drink regularly and I'd say a handful of times I drank over 6units. What should I answer to that question?

I really hope you hear back soon! Fingers crossed it won't be much longer for you. I can't wait to put this nightmare behind me
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I know someone said they drank over 6 units 4 times the past year and it didn't affect them. I've said twice that I've had over 6 units in one sitting. Hubby's and best friends 30th birthdays.

I know how you feel - It is scary and a very anxious time on the run up to it. I'm very anxious right now knowing my decision is looming once my paperwork is finally scanned back onto the system (it's not yet unfortunately). I'm calling every working day for an update! Just take it day by day. If you feel better for it, abstain from now. You'll go into your medical confidently knowing for a fact you'll pass the CDT. You probably have a good 6-8 week wait for your medical I'd have thought so around same time as I abstained. You can go a shorter period of time as others have but as I get quite anxious, I wanted to confidently walk in knowing I would pass it!

I'm hoping to have an answer on my licence within the next couple of weeks.. Fingers crossed!! X
 
Sent my renewal application on 20th February. They wrote to my doctor around mid June.... still waiting 🤣🤣🤣. Might het my medical this year. I can drive under settings 88 this time at least... but still, this is an awfully long time.
 
Jeremy321 said:
Sent my renewal application on 20th February. They wrote to my doctor around mid June.... still waiting 🤣🤣🤣. Might het my medical this year. I can drive under settings 88 this time at least... but still, this is an awfully long time.
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Bloody hell that's ages!! Are you applying after a temp licence?
 
Missbee said:
Bloody hell that's ages!! Are you applying after a temp licence?
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I was on a medical license and during that i had to het help because im an alcoholic and my licence was revoked in september 2019. Ive been sober since. In a temp licence for now. Still a long time though.
 
Incident 05/18
Convicted 06/18
Ban ended 12/19. First medical issue (due to suicide attempt I stupidly didn’t declare)
Second medical after COVID delay 08/20
1-yr license issued 09/20
Applied for new 07/21
1-yr license expired 09/21
DVLA wrote to GP 10/21
Medical 05/22 (why so long I don’t know, phoned many times meanwhile)
Phoned again, telling them this ain’t on 08/22
Full license issued 09/22

I truly hope this is the end of it all. This place has been utterly amazing and I’m grateful to each and every one of you I’ve spoken with personally. It’s been a hellish 4.5 years, and I just want the rest of my life back now.
 
I wanted to share my experience having been grateful to some of the advice in this forum.

Banned - January 2022 HRO
Ban - 12 month (reduced to 9months on DDR course)
Applied for new license - 20 July 2022
Invitation to book medical letter received - 11th August
Booked medical - 15th August
Date of medical - 17th August (due to a cancellation)
Licence received in post - 2nd September
Licence valid - from 20th October

6 weeks no drinking before medical (heavy ish prior). Said I had 6 units or more twice in last 6 months and a drink 2 or 3 times per month. Answered no to everything else. Medical was blood test, weight and height, blood pressure, I had to hold my hands out straight and did an eye test. They didn’t contact GP. Don’t know cdt score.

I have found the dvla very quick and not had to phone them. Just my experience but seem to be a lot of scare stories on here.

Hope that’s of help to someone.

Good luck!
 
Castle1. said:
I wanted to share my experience having been grateful to some of the advice in this forum.

Banned - January 2022 HRO
Ban - 12 month (reduced to 9months on DDR course)
Applied for new license - 20 July 2022
Invitation to book medical letter received - 11th August
Booked medical - 15th August
Date of medical - 17th August (due to a cancellation)
Licence received in post - 2nd September
Licence valid - from 20th October

6 weeks no drinking before medical (heavy ish prior). Said I had 6 units or more twice in last 6 months and a drink 2 or 3 times per month. Answered no to everything else. Medical was blood test, weight and height, blood pressure, I had to hold my hands out straight and did an eye test. They didn’t contact GP. Don’t know cdt score.

I have found the dvla very quick and not had to phone them. Just my experience but seem to be a lot of scare stories on here.

Hope that’s of help to someone.

Good luck!
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One of the quickest i have read about on here.
 
Jeremy321 said:
I was on a medical license and during that i had to het help because im an alcoholic and my licence was revoked in september 2019. Ive been sober since. In a temp licence for now. Still a long time though.
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Bloody long time. I'm glad you got the help you need. Hopefully you get a
Castle1. said:
I wanted to share my experience having been grateful to some of the advice in this forum.

Banned - January 2022 HRO
Ban - 12 month (reduced to 9months on DDR course)
Applied for new license - 20 July 2022
Invitation to book medical letter received - 11th August
Booked medical - 15th August
Date of medical - 17th August (due to a cancellation)
Licence received in post - 2nd September
Licence valid - from 20th October

6 weeks no drinking before medical (heavy ish prior). Said I had 6 units or more twice in last 6 months and a drink 2 or 3 times per month. Answered no to everything else. Medical was blood test, weight and height, blood pressure, I had to hold my hands out straight and did an eye test. They didn’t contact GP. Don’t know cdt score.

I have found the dvla very quick and not had to phone them. Just my experience but seem to be a lot of scare stories on here.

Hope that’s of help to someone.

Good luck!
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This is great. Its nice to see a positive story! Enjoy driving. That first drive is going to feel amazing 👏
 
Missbee said:
Bloody long time. I'm glad you got the help you need. Hopefully you get a

This is great. Its nice to see a positive story! Enjoy driving. That first drive is going to feel amazing 👏
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How heavy were you drinking before you abstained?
 
Mike1993 said:
Mine isn’t for alcohol it’s for cannabis use. I’ve been clean all year apart from June I smoked a couple joints but been clean since then again so who knows
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How much weed did you smoke a single joint last for like 3-5 days use milk thistle it will clean you right out
 
Castle1. said:
I wanted to share my experience having been grateful to some of the advice in this forum.

Banned - January 2022 HRO
Ban - 12 month (reduced to 9months on DDR course)
Applied for new license - 20 July 2022
Invitation to book medical letter received - 11th August
Booked medical - 15th August
Date of medical - 17th August (due to a cancellation)
Licence received in post - 2nd September
Licence valid - from 20th October

6 weeks no drinking before medical (heavy ish prior). Said I had 6 units or more twice in last 6 months and a drink 2 or 3 times per month. Answered no to everything else. Medical was blood test, weight and height, blood pressure, I had to hold my hands out straight and did an eye test. They didn’t contact GP. Don’t know cdt score.

I have found the dvla very quick and not had to phone them. Just my experience but seem to be a lot of scare stories on here.

Hope that’s of help to someone.

Good luck!
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Further to my post above, I have received a letter today from DVLA confirming CDT result was 0.9%. This was with 6 weeks no alcohol and regularly drinking prior.
Hope that helps someone.
 
Castle1. said:
Further to my post above, I have received a letter today from DVLA confirming CDT result was 0.9%. This was with 6 weeks no alcohol and regularly drinking prior.
Hope that helps someone.
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Congrats - that’s quick!

How much were you drinking prior if you don’t mind me asking..
 
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