Mental Illness

[ste20]

Hi, 

 

Not sure if I have the right place but a lot of questions seemed to be answered really well so I will try and tap the available knowledge.

 

I am a student mental health nurse in my second year and have run into a problem regarding my licence.

 

At the start of June I had a bipolar episode that finished, declared by my psychiatrist on Oct 6th.

 

I am fine with this (as you can be) as it has happened every 5 years for the past 20 years.

 

The time previous to this I took my car off the road and did not inform the DVLA and then when my psychiatrist "indicated" it was ok I drove.

 

This time because I wanted to do it right because I am trying to "do it right" I contacted the DVLA and just wow.

 

They told me the date was to be the 29th November to start my 3-month ban and that I was to send back my licence and re-apply after those 3 months.

 

Can I ask a question or two about this information???

 

Why did they start my 3-months on the 29th Nov when my doctor told me I was completely fine on the 6th Oct - It has added a huge amount of time onto my ban (7 weeks approx).

 

Is there anything I can do about this? It's like they picked a future random date out of the air(29th Nov). 

 

Can I get them to go with my doctor's 6th Oct if I ring up and tell them this is the date she chose (she chose to declare me ill on one day, why do they ignore the date I was well?)

 

Should I ring them up and if so, what should I say?

 

Also on the re-application papers sent out there is a section that says:

 

                                                 "where there has been a history of frequent relapses a longer period of stability will be required..."

 

Honestly, this terrifies me. What is the time they count as "frequent relapses?"

 

Is it every 2 or 3 years, or 5? 

 

If it is 5 years and  I fall under that banner say, what are they going to say to me? A 6 month absence?  A year?

 

It's pretty scary stuff to be honest.

 

If you can reply, can you be sure to give me the correct info if you can.

 

I thank you for your time in advance,

 

All the best, ste.

[unclebulgaria67]

Sorry this is not an appropriate question to ask on a public forum, because this involves legalities of whether you can drive following a health condition diagnosed by a Doctors.

 

You MUST contact DVLA with the  full information, to enable them to provide you with the information you are seeking.

 

https://www.gov.uk/reapply-driving-licence-medical-condition