Hi Ben.

My licence renewal goes for referral to medical section every 5 years due to a childhood eye injury, last renewal it took ages to be processed, around 3 months or possibly more, so long in fact that my licence ran out.

I contacted them just before it did run out, panicking a bit, and they sent me a letter of authorisation to continue HGV driving until further notice, this was accepted by everyone i worked for during that time...whether a company would start training you on the strength of such a letter though, i don't know.

I'd ring them if i were you and let them know the quandry you are in, the several times i've had to phone the vocational licence section they have always been thoroughly decent to deal with.

Not often you can say this - but Spain has a good system for dealing with medicals and licennce renewals (all drivers have medicals - every 10 years for under 65 - 3-5 years over 65).

You go to medical centre (approved by transport ministry) - have medical - they take photo with webcam - give you temporary licence - fulltime licence posted to you