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We are now subject to medicals to the DVLA group 2 standard for Hackney Badges. No problems; we need to be assured that a driver does not have a condition that may have him die at the wheel while POB.
DVLA guidance to doctors: 'Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency INF4D Booklet, MEDICAL EXAMINATION REPORT D4, Part B, Information for doctors has 10 guidance notes, number 8 states, Please obtain details of the applicants MEDICAL HISTORY when you fill in the report.'
The effect is that the LA require UK applicants to see their own GP for the medical. This is then sent to an independent medical adviser to review and advice the council on it's contents. Normally, quite straightforward.
It used to be the case that overseas applicants had to see their own doctor but, it could not be verified that had actually happened. The independent adviser agreed to a UK examination of these individuals. So far, so good, until a condition like epilepsy is considered.
Susceptibility to epilepsy cannot be detected by any tests so, the only way to know is to have a medical history.
A colleague of mine has been in protracted discussions about this:
"The [medical adviser] used to allow doctors in foreign countries to carry out medicals for potential [local] Taxi Drivers. There were numerous flaws in this including the fact that the applicant might have completed it him/her self. After nine months of my complaining the [medical adviser] did a U Turn and now insists in UK doctors doing the medical. This is excellent.
However, there is no requirement for a foreign applicant to bring his/her full medical history.
Without their Full Medical history, which is a requirement of the DVLA, the Epilepsy Society and Epilepsy Action say, neither a doctor nor the [medical adviser] can tell if the applicant has Epilepsy. If an applicant has Epilepsy they fail their medical."
The result of all this is that two different applicants can both be covering up a history of, say, epilepsy. But, because the medical notes are available, the UK applicant won't get a badge, the overseas one will. A UK resident is discriminated against. The arrangements, in, I believe, Leeds, require effectively, a year's residency, so that GPs' notes and DBS checks have some validity to them.
Now, the LA, local MP and medical adviser have all failed to address this concern. The next approach is to the General Medical Council, and, maybe, the Local Government Ombudsman.
Has anyone come across this? Any ideas on how to get some action to level this playing field?
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