Taxi Driver Online

Under Group 2 Medical Standards

If A Driver as got angina must take a treadmill test, however, if that driver as also got COPD and can't do a treadmill test, does anyone know anybody who has gone through this and kept his Badge? please we would be grateful for any information thank you.

Under Group 2 Medical Standards

If A Driver as got angina must take a treadmill test, however, if that driver as also got COPD and can't do a treadmill test, does anyone know anybody who has gone through this and kept his Badge? please we would be grateful for any information thank you.

One major problem is that councils usually require a "Group 2 standard" medical, not a DVLA test as such.

It may just seem to be a semantic difference, but the test results do not go anywhere near the DVLA, and only between doctor and local authority.

This means that rather than some faceless bureaucrat making a decision, the onus is on the Doctor - so if the medical condition was unfortunate enough to cause an accident the DOCTOR is liable, not the DVLA, so doctors are naturally cautious when approving medicals.

I am currently unable to work as I could not provide a meter with three months blood sugar readings (because the meter broke), so even though I have had no problems medically, the doctor would not complete the forms, so no badge for me, unfortunately

Under Group 2 Medical Standards

If A Driver as got angina must take a treadmill test, however, if that driver as also got COPD and can't do a treadmill test, does anyone know anybody who has gone through this and kept his Badge? please we would be grateful for any information thank you.

You do not have to inform DVLA regarding Angina or COPD unless there are complications so would assume neither would stop you getting a license.

Must notify the DVLA.

Must not drive when symptoms occur.

A licence will be refused or revoked if symptoms continue (treated or untreated).

May be relicensed/licensed (provided there is no other disqualifying condition) if:

■ no angina for at least 6 weeks
■ the requirements for exercise or other functional tests can be met

Try an expert if you can’t do a treadmill you can have a Stress Echocardiogram will be acceptable.I must stress I don’t no him or receive any commission

My name is Dr Robert Greenbaum. I am a Senior Consultant Cardiologist working in London both for the NHS and in private practice. I see, assess and treat patients with all forms of heart disease. I am a Past President of the Cardiology Section of The Royal Society of Medicine. My private practice is based at The Wood Street Clinic in Barnet, North London. In my practice I have a modern treadmill and echocardiography equipment. Other than through my practice I am connected with the driving trade. I have seen and treated many private hire drivers with heart disease over many years in practice.
I understand the importance of testing to private hire drivers. I have treated many and realise that their livelihood depends on the results of these tests. I have developed a high quality, accessible and economic service aimed at private hire drivers in and around London.

Treadmill exercise test – £189
Stress Echocardiogram – £459

Contact us
The Wood Street Clinic, 133 Wood Street, Barnet Herts EN5 4BX
Tel: 020 8449 7656 • http://www.thewoodstreetclinic.com enquiries@woodstreetclinic.com

If someone is not fit enough to safely take a treadmill test, along with suffering with COPD, then I would be surprised if any council would license them.

Very sad I know, but no council will take a risk like that.

A group 2 medical doesn't include a treadmill test does it?

Must notify the DVLA.

Must not drive when symptoms occur.

A licence will be refused or revoked if symptoms continue (treated or untreated).

May be relicensed/licensed (provided there is no other disqualifying condition) if:

■ no angina for at least 6 weeks
■ the requirements for exercise or other functional tests can be met

Not normally, but as I posted earlier, if you've been diagnosed with angina the Group 2 requirements specify some kind of exercise test or other test before you can drive again:



The 'exercise' test seems to be either a treadmill or bicycle test, according to the DVLA stuff. However, there's no mention of what the 'other functional test' means, but that's probably the Stress Echocardiogram referred to by mancityfan, or similar.

So obviously angina sufferers need to pass either a treadmill/bicycle test, or something else if they can't manage the treadmill/bicycle.

Try an expert if you can’t do a treadmill you can have a Stress Echocardiogram will be acceptable.I must stress I don’t no him or receive any commission

My name is Dr Robert Greenbaum. I am a Senior Consultant Cardiologist working in London both for the NHS and in private practice. I see, assess and treat patients with all forms of heart disease. I am a Past President of the Cardiology Section of The Royal Society of Medicine. My private practice is based at The Wood Street Clinic in Barnet, North London. In my practice I have a modern treadmill and echocardiography equipment. Other than through my practice I am connected with the driving trade. I have seen and treated many private hire drivers with heart disease over many years in practice.
I understand the importance of testing to private hire drivers. I have treated many and realise that their livelihood depends on the results of these tests. I have developed a high quality, accessible and economic service aimed at private hire drivers in and around London.

Treadmill exercise test – £189
Stress Echocardiogram – £459

Contact us
The Wood Street Clinic, 133 Wood Street, Barnet Herts EN5 4BX
Tel: 020 8449 7656 • http://www.thewoodstreetclinic.com enquiries@woodstreetclinic.com

The health rules for black cab drivers are being ever more strictly applied. In this article I am going to restrict myself to writing about my own speciality cardiology.

I am a senior cardiologist looking after all aspects of adult heart disease. I work in North London so I have many London cabbies as patients. They have encouraged me to develop a range of services specially aimed at the taxi trade.

Although taxi drivers drive with a Class 1 driving licence they have to achieve the level of fitness of HGV and PSV drivers who have Class 2 licences.

The rules apply to all professional drivers. They are the same in all parts of the country.

In London TfL enforse the requirements: in other areas it is the local licencing authority.

The commonest issues facing drivers are a history of a

• heart attack (myocardial infarction; acute coronary syndrome)
• angioplasty / stent insertion
• and / or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

In order to drive the requirements are

• freedom from angina for at least 6 weeks
• at least 6 weeks after an angioplasty / stent procedure
• at least 3 months after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

In addition you have to be able to successfully complete 9 minutes walking on a treadmill using the Bruce protocol.

Further if you have had a coronary artery bypass graft operation (CABG) or angioplasty it is necessary to have an assessment of your heart's pumping function. This is most commonly done by means of an echocardiogram (an ultrasound scan).

This measures LVEF (Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction) - To drive this figure needs to be at least 40%.

For various reasons some drivers are unable to walk sucessfully on a treadmill.

In these cases there is an alternative - stress echocardiography. This test is not dependent on the ability to walk on a treadmill.

In my experience most but not all drivers who fail the treadmill test are succesful in passing stress echocardiography.

If you feel that you may not be able to do 9 minutes on the treadmill then it is often best to have a stress echocardiogram.

We are happy to discuss this on an individual basis before testing.

There are other heart problems that require specific tests to allow professional basis. We are happy to discuss your needs.

Please contact us for more details

telephone 020 8449 7656
fax 020 8441 0231