British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hi,

Hopefully you will allow me to wear my professional hat for a minute to advise forum members on the situation regarding free concessionary bus passes.

All local authorities (mostly at County Council or Unitary authority level in England) will have a local Concessionary fares scheme. This will entitle the holder to free bus travel anywhere within the local authority area (and into neighbouring authorities areas in certain cases).

One of the qualifying criteria is if you have had your driving licence revoked by DVLA on medical grounds, or you would be likely to be refused a driving licence on medical grounds.

You can normally find details of the local authority's scheme under the public transport page on their websites.

If you live in Scotland or Wales, you have an even better deal as you are entitled to free bus travel anywhere within Wales or Scotland. However, members who live in England should become entitled to free bus travel in England by 2008, if the present government keeps to it's pledge to introduce this piece of legislation.

Hopefully this will be of help to members, if they find themsleves in the position of having their licences revoked for any length of time by the DVLA.

I had the same experience as you, I told the DVLA and got a reply very quickly saying because the condition was under control I could carry on driving.

One other thing though, don't forget to tell your car insurance and holiday insurance people that you have sleep apnoea. If something happens to you and they don't know your insurance would be void.

Chris

Joy of joys, I informed DVLA about my condition on Monday and they have sent me through a form to complete. The consultant I am seeing has told me to tell them that I have OSA rather than sleep apnoea syndrome based on my Epworth (?) score. Still since I need my licence in relation to my job, I am ...well, bricking it.

Blair, totally agree with you. I'm not bashing anyone, but I watched a programme a while ago where the Police set up a free 'clinic' for elderly drivers to be tested for eyesight etc. The results were predictably shocking (well we all get older and wear out), but what was more shocking was that there was no apparent legislation that dealt with many of the cases.

This is the second time in my life that I have had to advise DVLA of a medical condition> the first was 20 years ago when I lost some of the sight in one eye. When you are doing 'the right thing' you feel that undue focus is brought to bear.

Today's the day. I've not a clue what to expect from this medical. I don't know what MerseyTravel doctors will be able to ascertain better than 3 specialist consultants and my own GP.

I've not got a lot of confidence in getting this as a) I don't drive and b) after my experience with the occupational health physician at work I have lost faith in any doctor other than those who are working with me already.

Hope everything went OK today. Let us know how you got on.

Best wishes

Chris

Thanks Chris, well aside from the doctor being really beyond rude and ignorant I got it!!!

I have a disabled persons "access all areas" bus pass for two years with a review before they decide to give me another or revoke it. I also suffer from dizzy spells but he actually wrote on the form that he was awarding it for the OSA.

The photo is AWFUL!!! I wish I'd washed my hair.

Really glad you managed to get a result. Not sure if our local authority have the same scheme. I've only got a provisional license and the DVLA have given me the all clear to carry on with my lessons but I've got a bit of a mental block about driving at the moment so haven't driven for over a year.

One day I might try getting behind the wheel again, but at the moment I'm just happy being a passenger.

Best wishes

Chris

Trouble is though if you fall asleep at the wheel and have an accident if you hadn't told your insurers that you are a sufferer, as I understand it your insurance will be null and void.

My insurers are Budget and they have made a note on my file about my OSA and my cervical spondylitis. However, it hasn't made any difference to my premiums.

Chris

Well my consultant never advised me that I had to report this to anyone, and it was only after reading in this forum that it was required that I reported my diagnosis of mild OSA to the DVLA back in May this year after finding out over a year ago I had the condition. I consulted my GP about this and he got on to the DVLA's web site and from the info provided he felt that because my condition, as reported by the consultant, was so mild enough I need not, but left it up to me. I went ahead and filled in the form and the Epworth questionair, and included a cover letter explaining why it was so late, and pleading to them to not revoke my licence as my treatment with a MAD had it under control. So far to date I have not received any reply one way, or the other from them yet.

Hi I informed the DVLA as requested by my consultant and it takes about 8 weeks to do their investigations. I was informed last last week that I have had my licensed revoked due to Apnea and I have had to send it back. You can appeal which I am doing now and as I use my car for work I am trying to get Access To Work Support as I cannot do my job through medical reasons. I will let you know what happens.

For those interested, here's a good overview of the Access to Work scheme:

http://www.batod.org.uk/index.php?id=/a ... towork.htm

http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/sum ... php?id=a2w

When I recently blogged about the DVLA procedure for OSA patients, I found that if you don't tell them about your condition you can be fined up to £1,000. Not sure how much they enforce that but there you go.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea last November and was advised to inform the DVLNI (Northern Ireland equivelant of DVLA). I hadn't been driving much because of the apnoea and my licence was suspended.
I obtained my CPAP machine in December and found this effective immediately in giving me a good night's sleep.
However, micro-sleeps during the day continued and I am now on pro-vigil.
This has alleviated the problem further but it has not gone away and my licence has been revoked.
This does not trouble me greatly at present as I just want to get on top of the condition.
I now have a half fare pass for public transport issued by the Northern Ireland Department of Regional Development.
However, during a consultation with my GP he did look up the DVLNI guidelines for doctors on sleep apnoea and these seemed to suggest sufferers must be one month totally symptom free before they can recommence driving.
I assume the DVLA must be similar.

I'll be interested in the outcome of this, not something i have come across, but then my work have been very supportive to me.

I have severe sleep apnea and told the DVLA through their on line process. I explained how the cpap was working for me and that I was comfortable that my symptoms were improving. They replied to say thanks for letting them know and that I should keep them informed if there was any changes. My licence was not revoked and I am cleared to drive. The stress of worrying about not having told them is not there. I have now gone from 48 API to 0.4 API.
It would seem they will only stop you driving if you don't tell them and you should be aware that your doctor is bound by law to inform the DVLA once you are diagnosed.