so... My experience with Betsi Cadwalader (North Wales UK Health Authority,both GP wise and Hospital Trust and the DVLA...enjoy)
after being advised not to drive in April 2016 whilst they loooked into what was wrong with me, I hung up my keys and figured out how to get to work 20+ miles away each day (this was tricky to say the least but I managed).
I advised the UK DVLA that I had been told not to drive and handed in my licence to them, I was told it was better to surrender it voluntarily as it was easier to get back (incorrect by the way - thats a load of crap).
After a variety of appointments including an initial sleep study in 2016, that said I had sleep apnea but at about 1-2 events per hour it wasnt likely the cause or worth treating.
I then bounced around Neuro and all kinds of tests for the next 2 years almost, eventually returning to sleep apnea again at the same place, after an overnight study which showed again maybe 1-2 events they said its hardly worth treating you but we will go for it and see if it helps, marvellous.
I received a ResMed Airsense device and I found it did reduce the dizzy spells personally and eventually they went away so sleep apnea sounded like a good choice for my issues.
I was told that I could register my device and I get 3 months Myair access and can login etc online to check my nightly stats - well 9 months later myair was still working for me and I could check how I was doing each day. After using my cpap machine for a few months I was told I could re-pply for my driving licence which I did, the DVLA sent a letter to my GP and to my sleep apnea Dr at the hospital and then...Wait!
after 2 months I had heard nothing so contacted the DVLA who said they had not heard back from the hospital so I contacted them and they said they would sort it and .....wait
1 month later the DVLA wrote to me again wanting to know what was going on so I started to ring the hospital most days to see what the heck they were doing, they eventually said oh dear oh yes we see your letter and will sort it, which they did after another 2 or 3 phone calls - 'alledgedly at least'.
Then the DVLA said we havent had any letter from your GP!!!!! FFS!
SO... I call the GP each day for about a week usually engaged or ringing out till they say ok we will get on it, a month later the DVLA send me a letter saying they have had no contact from the GP!!!!!!!!!!!!
so..... I go to the GP who appears to have no idea what I am talking about then says leave it with me, she gives me a full medical checkup as I havent been in for about 18 months and sends me on my way quite satisfied with my health in general.
about 7 days later, after my medical examination I then get a letter from the DVLA to ask me to go to the GP for a medical examination so they can assess my licence application.....ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
This is for someone bear in mind who on initial sleep study has about 1-2 events perhour (before starting treatment!!) and so far this has taken about 2 years to get to this point and about 1 year after getting my CPAP machine and being told to apply for the licence again.
So...
During my time with my resmed, I use My air Daily and check how I am getting on, ok I am not perfect and some days I take mask off after only maybe 3 hours and go in spare room as its cooler and the mrs hates the cold, so I am by no means a star user but most days I am at least 5 hours and some times per month I have mask on for like 9 hours or so and my scores on myair are sometimes 100 though usually about 80, and sometimes less if not using mask for long enough.
I use it every day though because my GF has discovered I dont snore with it on and likes this so hassles me every single day to make sure it is on etc
So I get a letter from the hospital to come in for a cpap review about a month back,I am quite positive because I use it always and even though I sometimes take it off after 4 hours or so I generally have it on for the required time. I go in and take my ResMed and the nurse checks it over. She comes back with a more stern face saying you havent used your Resmed for 90 days this year....WTF I use it every day or get grief from the GF, so I say no that cant be right I check 'myair' every day on my phone, she says your myair only lasts 3 months and brings the myair data for my machine up on the screen it had ended last august and she said look on there you were using the machine fine....I still am I say, I still have my air access I looked at it like 4 days ago at most and it has a couple of weeks worth of data most at 88% or 100% - I whip my phone out to show her....no fkin signal ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH
she mentions DVLA want at least 4.5 hours a night, I say Im doing that generally, just need access to myair to show you ARRRGGGHHHHH
I ask about letter, she says the consultant puts letter in your file if you apply - I have no letter or info in here at all about anything to do with the DVLA - are you sure you contacted us - AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!! (only daily for weeks !!! AAARGRRGRGRHRHRHRHRHRH)
Ok so what she will do is book me in for a 6 monthly review because I am so rubbish and see how I get on...
I leave V V V V V V V V P*ssed off!!
I get home and myair no longer works Sigh , I assume her getting the data off it has P*ssed it off sigh and I have to re-register my machine - sigh FFS!
luckily once re-registered it picks up my old data missing a few days.
I think I am going to have to write down or record my Airsense data somewhere each day because I have no evidence otherwise apart from the data from my marvellously reliable hospital and health authority.
So I am now seeking software that will record all my nightly info without damaging it for when the nurse needs to check it on whatever they use their end.
MyAir doesnt seem to cut it really reporting wise its lame as.
as for the DVLA/Health authority/GP side of things...they honestly are totally incompetent - dont give up your licence FFS!!!!! no matter what the 'advice'
what a fkin joke
not even a funny one.