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Diabetic district nurse wins back driving licence

A district nurse who had her driving licence revoked after having two hypoglycaemic events has successfully appealed her driving ban
Helen Nicholds

A district nurse and type 1 diabetic is back behind the wheel after successfully appealing a driving ban imposed by the DVLA following two hypoglycaemic events.

Helen Nicholds, who is insulin-dependent, had her licence revoked in October 2014 after declaring two night-time hypos.

A 2011 European Union directive states a person with insulin-dependent diabetes cannot drive if they have two severe hypos in a year.

But Ms Nicholds appealed the ban, with written medical evidence on her condition from her consultant and the support of local MP Anne Marie Morris. ‘I check my sugar levels every time I get in the car, which in my job can be up to ten times a day. I have control,’ she said.

Last week the DVLA wrote to Ms Nicholds, who is based in Exeter in Devon, saying she was free to drive again.

‘I am so pleased the nightmare is over,’ she told RCNi.

She added that she had been able to continue working as a district nurse after she took a secondment working in a pair, with a colleague able to do the driving.

‘I was lucky because if I had not got this then I would have had to take a job on a community ward and I didn’t want to do that. I have also had to get family to drive me the 40-minute journey from home to work in Exeter.’

A DVLA spokesperson said: ‘Where a driving licence has been revoked on medical grounds we will consider any evidence the driver can provide to demonstrate they meet the medical standards as part of their appeal.'

Ms Nicholds has started a petition to change the rules. Click here