I had my stroke in January 2024. As I had provoked seizures from my haemorrhage I had to surrender my license for 12 months. I reapplied for my license in January 2025 and it has been a very slow and frustrating process.
The DVLA sent me a set of forms to fill in after receiving my application. I filled these in promptly and sent them straight back. They then wrote to my GP and sent them the same forms to fill in. After not hearing anything for a while I chased the GP who told me the forms were not a priority and they would fill them in when they got to the top of the pile. I chased them again and they said they had sent the forms back. I then received a text message telling me I had a GP phone appointment. I rang them to see what rhe appointment was for as I hadn’t asked for one and it was to speak to a GP to fill in the forms they’d already apparently sent back The GP then told me during this appointment that she shouldn’t have to fill in these forms, my stroke consultant should. How ironic when I don’t have a stroke consultant!
The DVLA received the forms back on 31st July. I have chased a couple of times but keep being told my application was with the medical team and when there was an update someone would be in touch. Finally, today, my licence status changed from “surrendered” to “you have a full driving licence” Hurrah!
The practice insisted it was not their responsibility and each time I went back after being told by others in the team that it is the GP’s responsibility they just refused point blank. In the end, they did a referral to the mental health team and we finally got someone to take ownership. The who thing bounced around for six months or so when it could have been done on the first day
I have had similar problems with my stroke consultant twice. I have not seen anyone from the stroke team since I was discharged from the hospital 2 years 9 months ago. My two attempts at regaining my driving licence be delayed by one year in each case with my GP eventually having to answer the DVLA questions himself.
My biggest problem with the driving assessment however has been the fact that I have been totally deaf since contacting meningitis at the age of 10 and have had to take the assessments in cars modern petrol engines which are so quite that they give me no help having driven nothing but cars and motorhomes with diesel engines for the past 22 years. My failure letter in both cases making no mention that I was driving an unfamiliar car in both cases. Next test if I get one will have to be in an a car with an automatic engine.
The GP then told me during this appointment that she shouldn’t have to fill in these forms, my stroke consultant should. How ironic when I don’t have a stroke consultant!
and be careful 
. Enjoy 