Heart problem and driving trains

[Ragtimer]

If driver is found to have "Left Branch Bundle Blocked" at an ecg examination,will it be mentioned to him and will it stop him driving on medical grounds?

 

[Newapplicant]

I'm not a driver myself nor do I work for a train operating company however I do work for the police and their medical policies tend to co-inside with each other.

Personally speaking, if they have noticed something like that, then I would expect that they would refer it to the doctor for them to review themselves, following the outcome of that would then advise on the route their taking with it.

However, I'm sure more qualified members may be able to answer your question.

 

[The One]

No medical expert here but how can they tell that just from a ECG

 

[Ragtimer]

Because it shows up on an ecg.It is caused because the ventricles are not synchronised correctly.No physical symptoms.No physical "blockage".The paramedic who advised me stated "It is nothing to worry about,I have it and I run marathons"
I am retired and had it diagnosed recently,never advised when driving,so I am wondering if I have developed it.

 

[Carl98k]

Because it shows up on an ecg.It is caused because the ventricles are not synchronised correctly.No physical symptoms.No physical "blockage".The paramedic who advised me stated "It is nothing to worry about,I have it and I run marathons"
I am retired and had it diagnosed recently,never advised when driving,so I am wondering if I have developed it.

I had a medical and my ecg showed palpitation, due to this I was made temporally unfit. I had seen cardiology before this and they confirmed it’s all benign. Unfortunately the job never materialised so back to the drawing board. I had a cardiac ablation 2 weeks after the medical and today (5 weeks post procedure) I no longer have them, well I get the odd few which is normal. Considering I was having over 10k extra beats a day it’s a miracle.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There are two types of bundle branch block, left and right. One is bad, one is pretty much irrelevant to anything. I guess you have the latter. I had it come up on an ECG once years ago, then never again, it seemed to fix itself.

 

[Luckyflames]

If driver is found to have "Left Branch Bundle Blocked" at an ecg examination,will it be mentioned to him and will it stop him driving on medical grounds?

Incomplete or complete ? Massive difference.

I had a medical and my ecg showed palpitation, due to this I was made temporally unfit. I had seen cardiology before this and they confirmed it’s all benign. Unfortunately the job never materialised so back to the drawing board. I had a cardiac ablation 2 weeks after the medical and today (5 weeks post procedure) I no longer have them, well I get the odd few which is normal. Considering I was having over 10k extra beats a day it’s a miracle.

Was you already a driver ?

 

[Carl98k]

Incomplete or complete ? Massive difference.


Was you already a driver ?

No, pre employment medical.

 

[Efini92]

If driver is found to have "Left Branch Bundle Blocked" at an ecg examination,will it be mentioned to him and will it stop him driving on medical grounds?

You’re best speaking to your doctor.
That’s quite a serious condition so it’s unlikely you would be passed medically fit.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You’re best speaking to your doctor

I agree with that.

That’s quite a serious condition so it’s unlikely you would be passed medically fit.

It's not necessarily, it's sometimes completely irrelevant.

 

[Luckyflames]

You’re best speaking to your doctor.
That’s quite a serious condition so it’s unlikely you would be passed medically fit.

If it’s an incomplete LBBB. It’s nothing. So not serious I’m the slightest.

 

[Efini92]

If it’s an incomplete LBBB. It’s nothing. So not serious I’m the slightest.

I’m not a doctor so I can’t really say. As a google doctor it says it will show make reading an ECG difficult.
Perhaps go to your doctor and get a letter to take with you to your railway medical explaining the condition. If the railway doctor has all the facts it could make all the difference.

 

[Sly Sloth]

Simplified answer….
if you’re already a driver, you’d be off track until resolved or displaced/medically retired
but if you’re not a driver I’d imagine you’d fail the medical and unfortunately that would be that

 

[Islineclear3_1]

This is a condition that causes electrical delay and irregular heartbeat. It can be asymptomatic or serious. Increasing age, previous heart attack or underlying health conditions are 3 risk factors. Left bundle branch block is more serious than right bundle branch block and you will need a full medical check-up including an echocardiogram (Echo for short) that uses ultrasound to build up a detailed image of the heart

 

[dk1]

Since the incident with the bin lorry driver in Glasgow a few Christmases back, heart seems to be something railway medicals are very hot on these now. We have seen so many drivers restricted after routine testing for minor things showing up before eventually being passed fit.

 

[320320]

Since the incident with the bin lorry driver in Glasgow a few Christmases back, heart seems to be something railway medicals are very hot on these now. We have seen so many drivers restricted after routine testing for minor things showing up before eventually being passed fit.

I always have problems show on the ECG, not bad enough to be taken off but they send me to a cardiologist who says it’s fine but we’ll see you again next year, rinse and repeat.

 

[dk1]

I always have problems show on the ECG, not bad enough to be taken off but they send me to a cardiologist who says it’s fine but we’ll see you again next year, rinse and repeat.

Yes mate, that seems a common occurrence these days.

 

[320320]

Yes mate, that seems a common occurrence these days.

As you say, they’re obviously more cautious after the bin lorry crash but you’d think the doctors overseeing the medicals would have more training with regards to reading the information on the ECG.

Every driver i know that’s been sent to the cardiologist has turned out to be unnecessary, but it’s cost the majority of them concern when it could’ve been avoided by a qualified doctor looking at it in the first instance.

 

[Carl98k]

As you say, they’re obviously more cautious after the bin lorry crash but you’d think the doctors overseeing the medicals would have more training with regards to reading the information on the ECG.

Every driver i know that’s been sent to the cardiologist has turned out to be unnecessary, but it’s cost the majority of them concern when it could’ve been avoided by a qualified doctor looking at it in the first instance.

So when i went for my ecg and they saw palpitations the railway dr still refused to sign me off. This was despite me showing him the letters from cardiology showing its benign and results from 72hour ecg, coronary check (all clear) and exercise tolerance test.

My cardiologist couldn’t believe they didn’t sign me off. I believe the railway Drs are effectively Gp’s which is all good, but my Gp said I had atrial fibrillation. But my cardiologist said its a load of rubbish, its just palpitation.

 

[ComUtoR]

My cardiologist couldn’t believe they didn’t sign me off. I believe the railway Drs are effectively Gp’s which is all good, but my Gp said I had atrial fibrillation. But my cardiologist said its a load of rubbish, its just palpitation.

Your Doctor will give you a health assessment. The Occupational Health Doctor will give you that assessment but also considerations that will impact the job you are doing. An Optician will freely tell you your eyesight is ok and you just need glasses, but the Railway Doc will asssess your eyeight in terms of what is and isn't allowed to meet the railway standards.

 

[Carl98k]

Your Doctor will give you a health assessment. The Occupational Health Doctor will give you that assessment but also considerations that will impact the job you are doing. An Optician will freely tell you your eyesight is ok and you just need glasses, but the Railway Doc will asssess your eyeight in terms of what is and isn't allowed to meet the railway standards.

While I agree to some extent, the railway Dr isn’t a cardiologist. in fact after all my cardiac tests came back as normal my cardiologist sent me to an electrophysiologist. They specialise in the the electrical system within the heart. The railway Dr needs to be satisfied that you won’t pass out or have a cardiac event while in control of the train. This was satisfied by the cardiologist and electrophysiologist.

 

[ComUtoR]

A lot of the more technical issues that crop up in a medical are referred to a specialist. Once that has happened then the Railway Doc generally makes a more informed decision. I fully support this approach as the Railway and the Employee are protected and looked after. I've been signed off F2 on a few occasions and my own Doc has always just given me a general health pass and anything related to my job she just kicks back to occupational health.

My Doc doesn't know what the standards are for the Railway. I doubt many do. I also doubt that my personal Doc would accept liability should anything happen.