DVLA Medical Decision

MaccaHallam

How long does it take for DVLA to make a decision on medical related applications?

My gf has a degenerative eye condition which requires her to reapply for her driving licence every year.

We received the letter from DVLA in January and my gf had the eye test the same week. We’re now in late March and there is less than 2 weeks until her driving licence expires. We’ve spoken to DVLA who couldn’t give us any timescale as to when this will be done.

Surely all that needs to be done is for the test results to be looked at and a decision made. I’m sure government cuts to services are down to the delay but to leave the decision this late is causing my gf a lot of stress and anxiety and a lot of uncertainty into planning for the future.

Should a decision take this long and what can we do to speed things up? This isn’t right and if my gf gets approval this time, we go through it all again next year. It’s not fair.

AndyMc.....

What's not fair?

sheramber

Did her renewal notice say whether she could continue driving until told to stop or did it advise she had to stop driving?

financegeek

Not sure why everyone's being so judgemental?

If I was in your girlfriends position and got my eyes tested the week the DVLA wrote to me, I'd assume they'd ensure their turnaround times are such that there would be a decision before the licence expires.

I can also understand why it's frustrating doing it year on year, even when you understand it's for her (and others) safety.

I'd continue calling them daily, sometimes making a nuisance of yourself can work. Has anything changed from last year that makes you think renewal may be refused this time?

MaccaHallam

In two weeks time her licence runs out but can drive using Section 88. This requires a doctor to assess and clear her to drive. She’s been to see her doctor who has refused to assess her as they say the DVLA need to send a form to the doctor, which according to the DVLA isn’t the case.

We’re being passed from one group to another and no one wants to take responsibility or give us a date when it’s likely to be resolved.

We fully understand why this needs to happen but we don’t understand the delays and lack of information or support.

According to what the optician said, nothing has changed from last year so having to wait weeks for a decision is unacceptable and very frustrating.

I just wondered if there is a timescale of when this should be looked into or if anyone is going through the same process every year?

Jumblebumble

MaccaHallam wrote: »

In two weeks time her licence runs out but can drive using Section 88. This requires a doctor to assess and clear her to drive. She’s been to see her doctor who has refused to assess her as they say the DVLA need to send a form to the doctor, which according to the DVLA isn’t the case.

We’re being passed from one group to another and no one wants to take responsibility or give us a date when it’s likely to be resolved.

We fully understand why this needs to happen but we don’t understand the delays and lack of information or support.

According to what the optician said, nothing has changed from last year so having to wait weeks for a decision is unacceptable and very frustrating.

I just wondered if there is a timescale of when this should be looked into or if anyone is going through the same process every year?

Assuming I have not misunderstood what you said I would suggest looking for a new doctor who understands their job and complaining to the CQC about your existing one.