What Will Happens At Your DVLA HRO CDT Medical?

In late 2024, DVLA made the medicals even more simple so it should take no more than 15 minutes. It's so simple and quick such that almost all patients will say to me 'Is that it?" So let's go through it step-wise.

BEFORE ARRIVING

• Come with a photo ID, ideally a passport. If you don't have a photo ID then DVLA does give you an option of having a photo signed with supporting declaration as detailed in your letter.

• Your list of medicines is not required for the CDT blood test.

PAPERWORK

• You or your doctor will complete a medical questionnaire which you will have to sign. Have details of your GP and any consultant (for example liver specialist, counsellor, psychiatrist etc) you may be seeing for your drinking related disorder. This includes address, telephone number as well as date last seen.

• The questionnaire assesses your drinking habits to figure out if you are high-risk or not. So think about how often you drink (never, occasionally, monthly, weekly or daily).

• A common mistake is not have dates at hand, especially of your last drink and if applicable, when you started treatment for alcohol detox/medicines to help you stop drinking or when you had an alcohol withdrawal seizure (not an alcohol-related seizure).

• Have an idea of how many units you drink in a typical week. This catches out many folks so have a look at this beforehand http://www.alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/interactive-tools/unit-calculator.

  
  

THE EXAMINATION

• Of course, if you come to your medical drunk or under the influence, it will be noted.

• The doctor will confirm some facts with you, especially around dates after which you will be examined for any high-risk features which may include assessing your mental ability.

• You may have to expose your abdomen for liver assessment so wear loose fitting clothes. Females may want a chaperone.

• The CDT medical involves taking blood so wear a top that allows access to your elbow and upper arm.

AFTER THE MEDICAL

• The office will mail your CDT blood test to the lab who then sends the results to the DVLA.

• We send the paperwork to the DVLA in the meantime, although in our case we email the paperwork immediately as all our medicals are paperless.

• DVLA asks us to tell patients to wait for 3 weeks for a response from them.

Please note: Doctors do not get notification of your results or outcome so please do not call the surgery.