You visit Flora in the community. She has continued to make progress and is now mobilising unaided. Whilst in her home you observe that she still has mild visuospatial inattention.
You note that she:
- is unable to locate remote control on her left side to turn down the television
- knocks over the milk carton which is on the work surface to her left when making tea
- has a burn on her left upper limb which she dismisses when you mention it
- has residual weakness in her left upper limb with limited functional use
- Flora reports to have successfully looked after her granddaughter for an afternoon the previous week. She states that she has an appointment with her GP the following week and is going to ask her to agree that she can return to driving as she is more than one month post stroke. Flora feels she has made enough recovery to drive safely.
When she is in the bathroom Flora’s husband tells you that he is concerned about her safety as she regularly bumps into objects on her left hand side. He has tried to raise his concerns with Flora as he feels she is not safe to drive but she refuses to acknowledge that there is a problem.
Ask family to take her car keys?
They may wish to do this if they are concerned but this should be discussed by the family and a decision made by them.
Go out in car with Flora see how she gets on driving?
This would be dangerous.
Liaise with Flora’s GP?
You may wish to do this but you must have Flora’s permission first.
Suggest she inform DVLA?
Flora has a legal obligation to inform DVLA about her stroke and the resulting change in her fitness to drive.
Suggest she surrender her licence to DVLA?
Flora may wish to submit her licence as she is not fit to drive at present.
Suggest she speak to her local garage/driving instructor?
This would not be appropriate for Flora as a driving instructor is not able to assess a person’s medical fitness to drive. They may be able to support a person who has no residual deficits following their stroke (e.g. visual inattention; cognitive impairment; limb weakness) but who would benefit from a lesson to support their confidence.
Advise her to speak with her GP about this?
Correct
Page last reviewed: 16 Apr 2021
