Hope2SleepGuide

Sleep Apnoea Forum Bringing Help + Support to the Patient

Please sign this Petition calling for Sleep Apnoea Testing on Lorry Drivers - Yet Another Tragedy!

Link directly to Sign the Petition is epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5851


 

A MUM is campaigning to raise awareness of a sleep disorder after her son was seriously injured and his fiancée was killed in a crash where the driver at fault had the condition.

Carole Upcraft has launched an e-petition calling for the government to pressure lorry drivers to have tests for sleep apnoea, which causes daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

Her son Daniel, 32, suffered brain damage and his fiancée Nicola Culshaw, 33, was killed when their car was hit by a lorry while queuing for the Dartford tunnel on the M25 in April last year.

The lorry driver, 40-year-old David Thomas from Upminster, was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving, but the case was dropped when it was discovered he had undiagnosed sleep apnoea.

Library supervisor Mrs Upcraft, of Knoll Rise, Orpington, said: “There is no point in being vengeful here. We just need to find a positive out of what happened.

"We do not want another family to go through what we have gone through.

“Research shows that 41 per cent of HGV drivers have a sleep disorder of one kind or another, but most of them won’t be aware of it.”

Mr Upcraft and Miss Culshaw, who taught chemistry at Sydenham High School, lived together in Cowper Road, Bromley, and were due to get married three months after the crash.

Communications engineer Mr Upcraft was in hospital for 10 months after the crash, and has short term memory problems as a result of the brain damage he suffered.

Mum-of-three Mrs Upcraft, 55, said: “He was in post traumatic amnesia for 10 weeks after the crash. We had to keep telling him that Nicola had died because he would not take it in. It was heartbreaking.

“The loss of Nicola has left a massive gap in his life and ours too. We want to raise awareness of sleep apnoea so Nicola has not gone for nothing.”

To sign the petition, which needs 100,000 signatures to be considered by the government, go to http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/5851

http://bit.ly/mYR3H2

Views: 686

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

How are you trying to increase awareness in the forums? I would think that these sites would already promote awareness. What do you do Ben?



Ben Enlow said:

nevermind...I'm American.  I tried to sign it, but couldn't...best of luck.  My business is sleep apnea testing, screening and implementation (not an ad) of people in the transportation business so naturally I feel very strongly about what I just read.  I am trying to increase awareness in these forums.  Best of luck, once again.

Ben Enlow said:

How do I sign the e-petition?

Well, awareness meaning there is a quick turn-key process to treating sleep apnea.  Awareness, albeit in a subtle manner, of my company, and awareness of the loss accompanied with sleep apnea in the transportation industry.  We screen, diagnose, treat and monitor patients with sleep apnea, and we do it proactively.  We take it to them, so to speak.  We offer home sleep testing, internet questionnaire testing and remote compliance monitoring.  While we work with the public or main focus is the transportation industry.  If every truck driver could get tested 11.1 billiion in damages could be saved per year and 980 lives!  That's raising awareness, drowsy driving and sleep apnea behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler is a recipe for disaster. 

Hi Ben,

 

You might like to look at my website www.truckershealth.org.uk, this is a self-help website designed for truckers, who are struggling with daytime sleepiness.

There are a couple of serious issues we have in the UK with regard to truck-drivers with OSA: 1. He will lose his HGV licence if he is dx with OSA and, 2. no-one in the transport industry is prepared to talk about it.  The transport authorities' view is that a guy's health is his own concern; it is his responsibility to get something done about it, not the employer's.  But the driver finds himself between a rock and a hard place: if he does nothing about his sleepiness he will most likely have a crash, which may be fatal. but if he does seek treatment, he will lose his licence and probably, his job.

His problems are made worse by the fact that his GP will most likely tell him he needs to lose some weight and leave it at that. In the UK the average length of time from first visit to his GP to getting a diagnosis from a respiratory specialist is two years; absolutely appalling. Many will have given up long before that; or been sent to prison.

In private, the driver can access the Truckers' Health website and download two medical standard questionnaires to take with him to his GP.  This should shorten the time it takes to get diagnosed.  The sites offer help in other ways, too, as you will see.

I would be interested to know what you (and any other forum members) think of the site.  At present I am trying to get the Freight Transport Association on board, I have had a meeting with my MP and it has been passed to the Transport Minister in Westminster.

The whole question of dealing with commercial drivers and OSA is going to need a change in the law; and changes like that can only come from Brussels.

Kath, Just thinking out aloud, do you think this is a topic that our friend, Lee Dryden who is on www.sleepguide.com could write about in one of his blogs for The Oakland Press. He asks for suggestions for things he can write about Sleep Apnea.
I used to work in the trucking industry in Australia and sleep apnea was never mentioned about long haul drivers only drugs but I'm sure it is a major problem here as well.

Good idea Terry.  Have you time to contact him as it's bedtime here (30 mins later than planned).  Good to hear you never had an accident in all your undiagnosed years.  Rather scary isn't it?

Terry Vella said:

Kath, Just thinking out aloud, do you think this is a topic that our friend, Lee Dryden who is on www.sleepguide.com could write about in one of his blogs for The Oakland Press. He asks for suggestions for things he can write about Sleep Apnea.
I used to work in the trucking industry in Australia and sleep apnea was never mentioned about long haul drivers only drugs but I'm sure it is a major problem here as well.
Kath, Sorry I forgot about the time difference, I'll raise it with him, I didn't actually drive trucks, I managed the company and the drivers. We were one of the first companies in Australia to move more to rail to try to get away from driver fatigue, have a good nights sleep.

Thanks Terry.  Lunch time here now, and well ready for it too :)

Terry Vella said:

Kath, Sorry I forgot about the time difference, I'll raise it with him, I didn't actually drive trucks, I managed the company and the drivers. We were one of the first companies in Australia to move more to rail to try to get away from driver fatigue, have a good nights sleep.

What HST do you use? Are you a tech? Do you use techs? What is the turn around? Who reads the results?

Ben Enlow said:

Well, awareness meaning there is a quick turn-key process to treating sleep apnea.  Awareness, albeit in a subtle manner, of my company, and awareness of the loss accompanied with sleep apnea in the transportation industry.  We screen, diagnose, treat and monitor patients with sleep apnea, and we do it proactively.  We take it to them, so to speak.  We offer home sleep testing, internet questionnaire testing and remote compliance monitoring.  While we work with the public or main focus is the transportation industry.  If every truck driver could get tested 11.1 billiion in damages could be saved per year and 980 lives!  That's raising awareness, drowsy driving and sleep apnea behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler is a recipe for disaster. 

More good news on this subject from the British Sleep Society:-

The British Sleep Society is campaigning for potential life-saving cost-effective screening and treatment of OSA among truck drivers, to enable them to remain alert and drive safely. Early diagnosis and treatment not only reduces the risk of road traffic accidents, but also the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially hypertension, myocardial infarction and stroke, all of which are more common in those with OSA.

The British Sleep Society will be approaching employers, unions, road safety and governmental organisations as well as truckers and their families for support for such a scheme, which will benefit all concerned and reduce road deaths.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Sleep Apnoea Forum

New to the Sleep Apnoea Forum? 

1. Stop by our Sleep Apnoea Welcome Center to introduce yourself to the SleepGuide community.
2. Start a New Topic of Conversation.
3. Post your photos - of yourself, your old CPAP machine, your new CPAP machine, your pet, something about you!

Interested in advertising, have a problem or need to contact us? Click the Report an Issue page.

 

Latest Activity

Jonathan replied to John's discussion Airsense 10 -humidifier runs dry
"I did replace the tank in my SleepCube, and had to regularly take the silicone sealing gasket out and give it a goof clean, but not infrequently found it standing in a pool of water in the morning.  The machine sat on a tray because of…"
Tuesday
John posted a discussion

Nasal valve collapse

Does anyone have any experience of nasal valve collapse?Wondering if I have this but I don't know what the norm is.Been trying widgets that hold the nose open and it's like night and day.See More
Sunday
John replied to John's discussion Airsense 10 -humidifier runs dry
"Wow it's the other way round for me.I found with the Sleepcube I'd often have a good bit of water still there in the morning. Today I woke up with a dry tank on the Resmed again and it's not on full heat or flow. I got it on 6…"
Sunday
Becky Murkin posted a discussion

F20 AirFit small marking bridge of nose

Please help or give advice all wise people on here.I have had the Resmed F20 AirFit small mask for over a month. Seals yet…See More
Mar 19
Frances Knight replied to Frances Knight's discussion Air Sense 10 - changing pressure settings
"A very helpful reply Jonathan. I found the pressure setting for the full face mask to be too high when I changed to a nasal mask, but perhaps I should have persisted? I'll try again and I'll also discuss with the clinic whether an APAP…"
Mar 13
Jonathan replied to Frances Knight's discussion Air Sense 10 - changing pressure settings
"Ramble alert!  My history is that I spent part of each week at a different location, so bought a second machine identical to my fixed pressure NHS machine and set it up to match using the clinician menu.  This was a very long time…"
Mar 12
Frances Knight replied to Frances Knight's discussion Air Sense 10 - changing pressure settings
"Thanks Jonathan - I had seen the YouTube video. My question is really about the experience of people who have control of their pressure settings, for example those people who have bought their machines directly and not obtained them through an NHS…"
Mar 12
Jonathan replied to Frances Knight's discussion Air Sense 10 - changing pressure settings
"This is NOT a recommendation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNUWhd2UgQM"
Mar 11
Frances Knight posted a discussion

Air Sense 10 - changing pressure settings

I have been successfully using my air sense 10 since OSA diagnosis, and my AHI is now under 2. I had an appointment with my clinic this week and have been told there is no need for further appointments and just to contact them if I need supplies or…See More
Mar 11
Swen Greve is now a member of Hope2SleepGuide
Mar 4
Jonathan replied to Sue Reeves's discussion A few questions..
"If you have a helpful GP, I would ask them to re-refer you to the sleep clinic."
Mar 3
Sue Reeves posted a discussion

A few questions..

A quick bit of backgroundDiagnosed with OSA about 7/8 years ago by my local sleep clinic and given a F &P Icon CPAP.  After a couple of follow-up appts to sort out any issues, I was sent on my merry way. I have had no further face to face…See More
Mar 3
Jonathan replied to John's discussion Airsense 10 -humidifier runs dry
"I previously had a DeVilbiss Sleepcube and the dehumidifier did sometimes run dry.  On the other hand I now have an AirSense 10 and it never runs dry, and I've had the humidity turned up high."
Feb 26
John posted a discussion

Airsense 10 -humidifier runs dry

Hi. I'm finding the Airsense 10 the hospital gave me, the humidifier chamber runs dry. It's not even on max settings, which I'm guessing would empty it a lot quicker. Seems like a big design oversight to me. Does anyone else have this trouble? The…See More
Feb 26
David Hudson posted a discussion

Decline in hearing

HiI have regular, well yearly check ups at work. One being a hearing test. Since having my cpap machine my hearing has declined rapidly in 1 ear.....could this be as a result of pressure? I believe I'm on 15cm p max h2o. I just use a nasal…See More
Feb 26
Profile Icontim richards, mark & les, Lesley Parks and 1 more joined Hope2SleepGuide
Feb 13
Jenny Wren replied to Jenny Wren's discussion Feeling Abandoned by the Sleep Clinic
"I've got lucky! I can collect a new machine next week. It's been really helpful to 'speak' to people here and to Kath. It alerted me to the fact that I'd slipped through the net. The clinic were very apologetic and now all…"
Feb 8
Ejog1 replied to Jenny Wren's discussion Feeling Abandoned by the Sleep Clinic
"Thanks. Good news for me today, my clinic did finally reply to me and they’re giving me a new machine. The person I spoke to was super helpful. The NHS clinics are great when you’re able to speak to them, but they seem to be…"
Feb 7
Jenny Wren replied to Jenny Wren's discussion Feeling Abandoned by the Sleep Clinic
"Yes, my machine is affected. Seems I slipped through the net. I'm now on the sleep clinic's radar again and am hopeful that this will be sorted soon. Thanks for your reply and stay well."
Feb 7
Jenny Wren replied to Jenny Wren's discussion Feeling Abandoned by the Sleep Clinic
"I'm sorry to hear that. I emailed Kath about this and she was very helpful. She advised me to get in touch with my sleep clinic and I have had a reply from them. I so hope that you get a response soon."
Feb 7

© 2024   Created by The SleepGuide Crew.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service