Emsworth Surgery .

6 North Street . Emsworth . Hampshire . PO10 7DD

Ms Julie Davies Coroner’s Officer Portsmouth Office The Coroner’s Court 1 Guildhall Square Portsmouth PO1 2GJ

16th July 2021

Requested Report -

Mr Andrew Biddlecombe (AB) was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2012. He was advised by the Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist of his responsibility to inform the DVLA of his diagnosis verbally during a clinic appointment in 2012. AB was sent a copy of the clinic letter detailing this advice.

AB had two possible seizures documented in the past dating back to 2012. He was informed by a consultant neurologist verbally during a clinic appointment following the first seizure that he had a duty to inform the DVLA and his insurance company. AB was also sent copy of this clinic letter.

Emsworth Surgery completed a DVLA Medical Questionnaire in 2014. His diagnosis of Epilepsy was declared on this DVLA form as was his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. His driving status and neurological symptoms continued to be reviewed at regular six-month intervals in the neurology clinic at St Richard’s Hospital up until the time of his death. His last clinic appointment letter referred to him as “a very fit and active gentleman”.

AB also had cataracts that were operated on in 2019 and at his last ophthalmology review in February 2020 he was noted to have posterior capsule opacities which were due to be treated. The letter from this appointment does not state he was not advised to drive or that there was any concern that he did not meet the visual standards for driving.

With regards to medication that may have had an impact on driving, AB was commenced on Ropinirole in 2012, and he remained on this medication up until the time of his death. Hospital letters over this period document regular medication reviews as part of his care.

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Emsworth Surgery .

Hospital correspondence, in at least the two years prior to his death, document that he was sent a patient medication leaflet along with a copy of his clinic letters detailing the possible side effects of this drug with particular regard to its potential for sudden drowsiness and impact on safe driving.

He was also on a low dose of Ramipril at the time of his death, this had been commenced in late
2019. He attended for a medication review several weeks after commencing this and there were no reported side effects at the review appointment nor any reported in the months after this.

Emsworth Surgery have undertaken a significant event analysis as part of the action arising from the Regulation 28 Report received. We have reviewed the templates that could be used for chronic disease review to ensure there are questions relevant to the patient’s driving status. We have also written to all our patients on the Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Disease register to remind them of their responsibilities to inform the DVLA of their diagnosis. We have asked the patients on these registers to inform us if they are current drivers so we can ensure their records are up to date. Finally, we have sent a medication leaflet to all patients on Ropinirole detailing possible side effects including sudden drowsiness to remind patients of these and the importance of reporting side effects.

With kind regards,

Dr