Ulbster trucker help lift diabetes drive ban

‘DONALD Campbell of Caithness has single-handedly helped change the rules.”

Those were the words of local MP John Thurso who heaped praise on the D. Steven and Son truck driver from Ulbster whose story has helped force the Government to make a U-turn on a blanket ban that was stopping certain diabetes sufferers from holding heavy goods vehicle driving licences.

Now insulin-dependant HGV drivers will have a chance to get their group-two licences back after the MP used Mr Campbell’s story in a Commons debate to convince the transport minister to have a rethink.

“I simply put the issue to the minister and used Mr Campbell’s experience to illustrate the problem, and the minister decided to overrule his officials and has stated that the regulations will be changed from October,” said John Thurso.

“Furthermore, on the record he has publicly said that he will guarantee that Donald Campbell will be number one in the queue.”

During the debate last Tuesday, the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP used Mr Campbell’s case to illustrate the flaw in the current UK legislation which means all insulin-dependant commercial vehicle drivers automatically lose their licences on diagnosis.

During the debate parliamentary under-secretary of state for transport Mike Penning said the situation surrounding the matter was “complicated” but that he would move to get proposals in place when the parliament returns from the summer recess.

This would ensure that everyone in the same situation as Mr Campbell would be subject to an individual medical test to see on a case-by-case basis if they were fit to hold a licence.

“The moment you are insulin dependant your group-two licence gets taken away,” said John Thurso.

“What they are now saying is that as long as you have an annual check-up with a relevant medical professional and you get the okay you can have the licence.”

The European Commission has already introduced the annual medical tests but the UK missed the deadline and that means many commercial drivers can lose their livelihood if diagnosed with the condition, said the local MP, although foreign drivers dependant on insulin can transport goods on British roads.

Mr Campbell has type 2 diabetes which he was diagnosed with in 2000. He was not treated with insulin until 2005, when he was advised by doctors to change his medication to slow-release insulin to protect his long-term health.

He has had his licence taken off him twice since then, the first when he was initially diagnosed and the second after a mistake with the DVLA caused it to reissue it for a period of three years before it was withdrawn for the second time in 2010.

His job at the haulage firm has been held for him in anticipation of such a change in the law and he said he now can’t wait to get back on the road again.

“John Thurso spoke excellently on my behalf and has my complete gratitude. The new transport minister was a total surprise, a rare species – someone with common sense,” said Mr Campbell.

“I am very happy with the reply and cannot wait to get back to work, the sooner the better.”