C1 after triple heart bypass?

BertieBonkers

BertieBonkers

Free Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2021
Posts
25
Likes collected
19
Location
Lymington, UK
Funster No
84,692
MH
Carthago Chic C-Line
Exp
Almost 2 years
Hi there, I am a year away from renewing my C1. We have seen a super A Class that we would like to buy but this is over the 3.5 limit etc. Three years ago due to Angina being spotted I had to have a triple bypass, all done AOK and I am fine now. Question is does anyone else have experience of getting a C1 with this sort of history that they care to share? Also, any Doctors on here who can suggest based on Patients that they may have heard about?
Cheers
Derek
 
Heart bypass is NOT a DVLA reportable illness except for full HGV (if it's your profession)
Your doctor will tell you when you can drive again . ..usually a month after surgery if everything is ok

strangely, a heart transplant isn't reportable either but the docs waiting time is longer.
 
To retain your C1, You will need to have the D4 medical filled out by your GP or equivalent, and a D2 eye test form at somewhere like specsavers. Or both at a drivers medical Gp.up to 4 months prior to your 70 th birthday.
The DVLA will then probably book you in somewhere local for a stress test, ( treadmill test)
On satisfactory completion of this and the report being sent to the DVLA to review by a team of nonmedical personal,they may then renew your C1 ,hopefully for 3 years ,but some folks have been issued a C1 renewal for 1 year.
The above process can take anywhere from 3 months to 6 months.
Best of luck.
Ps you can still drive under your C1 while your application is being processed under section 88
 
Last edited:
pappajohn said:
Heart bypass is NOT a DVLA reportable illness except for full HGV (if it's your profession)
Your doctor will tell you when you can drive again . ..usually a month after surgery if everything is ok
Click to expand...
Sorry but Angina and a resultant bypass surgery is reportable as a heart condition when you reach 70 and apply for a Renewed C1
www.gov.uk

Cardiovascular disorders: assessing fitness to drive

Advice for medical professionals to use when assessing drivers with cardiovascular disorders.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
 
Just looked on the website and it is reportable.....but C1 (with a 107 endorsement) isn't a professional HGV licence.
But ....the goalposts have moved in 5 years.
My doc said not reportable but he would say when I could drive....approx 1 month which tallied with DVLA advice..
Now the time is one week.
I wouldnt even attempt to drive one week after heart surgery.

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I go to this Gov Website for any queries about medicals for licences......

www.gov.uk

Assessing fitness to drive: a guide for medical professionals

Advice for medical professionals to follow when assessing a patient's fitness to drive.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

You will need a PDF reader programme or app to open the .pdf download.

Good Luck!!(y)
 
Thanks all, this was just the sort of steer I was after. I think with a bit more dedication and exercise (which I can do) would be able to do the treadmill test properly, thats when they said I needed the bypass in 2019. Barry, I will certainly download the Gov doc and check that out so thanks for that.
 
My husband retained his after a double bypass and passing the required treadmill test. It did take 12 months though and was only renewed for 1 year. During the time waiting after application, you can realistically only drive in UK so only you can decide if it is worth the aggro.

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BertieBonkers said:
Thanks all, this was just the sort of steer I was after. I think with a bit more dedication and exercise (which I can do) would be able to do the treadmill test properly, thats when they said I needed the bypass in 2019. Barry, I will certainly download the Gov doc and check that out so thanks for that.
Click to expand...
The treadmill test is 9 minutes long ,3 mins at 3 elevations(gradients) and speed it's documented on lots of sports sites
It's not the test really,it's the wait for the result,you are really in limbo untill you get the Ci. You can still drive in the UK under section 88 but not abroad if your licence expired before you get a new one..My licence has been renewed twice now,but I didn't have a bypass,just a heart attack with a stent inserted ,and C1 renewed for 3 years.I'm not sure if the DVLA only allow 1 year for bypass surgery or not Maybe others can advise on that.
 
BIL is almost 80 has had a quadruple bypass, still retains his C1, works full time too, (my sister isn't that bad) he gets sent for a treadmill tet, which is not suitable, but he has to go for that first before being sent for another test, DVLA wasting money as they pay for it, last time he went 2 others same as him had to attend, despite medics telling DVLA that test wasn't suitable.
 
So, thanks to Barry for the medical link. As I have said before it was Angina that led to me having a triple bypass. I have not read it all yet but the doc states that the license would be refused or revoked if symptoms persist but may be re licensed if you have not had Angina for 6 weeks and the Exercise Tests can be met. Will look them up next. Thanks again Barry!

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Re the 'other' test.
You will know? that the Treadmill test involves walking up an ever increasing gradient, at an ever increasing speed whilst being monitored for a malfunctioning heart.
The final speed of foot requires a walking pace just under 3.5mph.
As one gets older, it is not expected that such a speed is feasible so instead, g740the medics inject the victim with, I believe, adrenaline which mimics the effort required in the physical test.
As to what would happen if the victim had a morbid fear of needles is anyone's guess. After all, that is a reasonable reason to provide a blood sample under drink/driving legislation.
Just saying.
 
So reading a bit more of this 130 page document it seems (at least as far as I have got so far) there are two tests, the Treadmill or Bruce Protocol Test that Emmit mentions above and also an LV Ejection Fraction Test. It seems that this is referring to your hearts Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and it must be above 40%. I am no Doctor but the LV is the main pumping chamber (thank you Mr Google) and 'normal' ranges from 50% to 75%. It seems that testing this is done in many different ways such as Echocardiogram, Cardiac MRI, Cardiac CT Scan and others which are invasive so not ideal to say the least.

I will keep reading ...................
 
The stupid thing is that. should DVLA deem that I require to undergo a stress test and, further, should I fail that test and they deny me a C1, I will not be selling our AClass van.
No, I will downplate it to 3500kgs and attach a suitable trailer.
What is the sense in their thinking.
Our van has a MTW of 6000kgs so I could tow a bl**dy enormous trailer, (not that I would) but it's about time the powers had a rethink and separated leisure vehicles from occupational vehicles.

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Emmit said:
The stupid thing is that. should DVLA deem that I require to undergo a stress test and, further, should I fail that test and they deny me a C1, I will not be selling our AClass van.
No, I will downplate it to 3500kgs and attach a suitable trailer.
What is the sense in their thinking.
Our van has a MTW of 6000kgs so I could tow a bl**dy enormous trailer, (not that I would) but it's about time the powers had a rethink and separated leisure vehicles from occupational vehicles.
Click to expand...
I believe that if you lose your C1 you are still allowed to tow say a caravan rig up to 4500kgs, figure that one out. 🤔
 
It's been great to get all your comments and ideas I really do appreciate them all. I think I am just going to knock on the door of my GP and go through the form with him and yes I know this will cost but better to find out now rather than have to sell the new MoHo if I fail. If I learn anything more I will be sure to let you all know here.
Cheers
Derek
 
BertieBonkers said:
It's been great to get all your comments and ideas I really do appreciate them all. I think I am just going to knock on the door of my GP and go through the form with him and yes I know this will cost but better to find out now rather than have to sell the new MoHo if I fail. If I learn anything more I will be sure to let you all know here.
Cheers
Derek
Click to expand...
You can download a copy of the form on line and also the instructions of how to fill it in. Most of it you could fill in yourself ,knowing your own history and what your background medical history is. It's fairly basic yes/ no, answers. At the end of the day it's the " medical team" at the DVLA that will decide the way forward and not your own doctor as others will attest.
One of the problems with DVLA is that it takes so long, for me personally it was almost 6 months. And 4 months of that my licence had expired ,I could drive on section 88 so no issues ,but not abroad .part of my delay was due to 2 of the test centres declining to carry out the treadmill tests due to invoice issues.and having to rearrange the test.it was a month from the test date to recieving my C1.

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My husband has a few health problems. We were pretty sure it wouldn't be straight forward for him when he reached 70, so we downsized. I can honestly say, we have no regrets at all. We have peace of mind over his driving licence and we love the smaller sized motorhome. There are several advantages, including parking, palaver in France and I'm quite happy to drive it, as it's smaller. Win win.
 
Hi BertieBonkers. I have been through a similar situation as you last year. It took 10 months to sort it out. My issue was I have a implanted ICD & suspected Brugarda syndrome. All were notified & I had the necessary D4 & medical eye test etc, so I thought I has a chance. I filled in additional forms they requested for the ICD & gave the DVLA my consultants contact details...more waiting. By the way they did not bother to contact my consultant about my medical condition. It was quite a unnecessary palaver. Eventually they notified me I had a permanent bar from holding a Group 2 (lorry or bus) licence. They referred me to www.gov.uk/dvla/fitnesstodrive web page. Given the contents of this guidance, why was I not told that I would never be allowed to keep my C1 in the first place.

The links is given earlier in the thread #4 & #7. You will do well to use these as the basis for how the DVLA will view you medical conditions.
Unfortunately I can only conclude that retaining ones C1 entitlement if you have any form of notifiable medical condition is no way certain. You may well keep it at the first application, but may loose it later if you cannot meet the medical standards that apply in the future.

I always thought this would be a problem for me. So when we purchased our new Moho in 2019 we chose one (Hymer Exsis I 678) which initially weighed 3850 Kg but was able to be down plated to 3500 Kg. In our case it was a simple paper exercise. It is a pain to keep below the 3500 Kg limit. But it is essential to pick a van that has the necessary base weight to make it practical at 3500 Kg.
I suggest you look at the Tread "Tips on saving weight to gain usable payload" This may be helpful.

Given you are only 12 months from 70 I would not recommend you purchase a Moho that cannot be down plated. It may be a costly event if you have change your van again.
 
The real problem at the moment for C1 renewal is the “work-to-rule” in the DVLA medical Assessment Dept. I sent mine D4 on 24 November, it was passed to the Med Dept on 1 December, and of last week was still sitting there! And I only have satisfactorily treated hypertension.

The receptionist said there was no timescale for completion!
 

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