Question
Can my licence be returned without the entiltlement to drive because of my HIV status?
14 November 2011. Related: All topics.
I am HIV positive and work as a bus driver. The DVLA have known about my medical condition for at least 5 years Nothing has changed regarding my health, however my licence has recently been returned without the entiltlement to drive a bus. Some at the DVLA say this is a mix up; while others imply it has been done as a result of my medical condition. Have you heard of any other professional drivers losing their entiltlement, on the grounds of being HIV positive?
Answer
It sounds like you should first contact the DVLA to appeal and get this changed. If they say it is a mistake, they should fix it. Driving licences work using letter for different types of vehicle so a mistake may be genuine and nothing to do with your medical history.
i-Base is mainly focused on HIV treatment, but I have never heard of a similar case.
It might also be worth contacting an HIV organisation such as the THT who provide information on legal and employment issue. You union would presumably also support you in this. HIV is an exclusion for very few jobs – dentists, surgeons and psychiatric nursing being the main ones. I have never heard that being a bus driver was included on this list.
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