This depends on what type of driving licence you hold and the nature of your role, and it is one of the most important practical questions to resolve before you attempt to return.
Group 1 licence (ordinary car): There is typically a mandatory period during which you cannot drive after a cardiac arrest or ICD implant. Once this period has passed and the DVLA has confirmed you may drive again, returning to a job that involves some driving is generally possible, subject to your cardiologist’s advice.
Group 2 licence (lorry, bus, or coach): The DVLA rules for Group 2 drivers are much stricter. Following a cardiac arrest, Group 2 licensing is usually permanently revoked, and in most cases cannot be reinstated after an ICD implant. If your job specifically requires a Group 2 licence — HGV driver, bus driver, coach driver — this is likely to mean a permanent change of role. This is one of the most significant practical impacts cardiac arrest can have on employment.
Do not drive for work until you have received explicit written confirmation from the DVLA that your licence has been reinstated or retained. Our page on driving and the DVLA after cardiac arrest covers the regulations in full. Members of our community who have navigated this process, including those who have had to change careers, are often willing to share their experience.