Alamy
A new law
A new law has come into force in a bid to improve the process of obtaining a driving licence as an abundance of medical questionnaires from drivers can cause a backlog
Speed up the licensing process
In a bid to help speed up the licensing process, a new driving licence law has come into force. From July 20th, healthcare professionals other than doctors can now complete DVLA medical questionnaires, speeding up thousands of applications. The DVLA has announces that this would take place following any notification of a medical condition that may affect an individual’s driving.
Other healthcare professionals
Under the amendment to the Road Traffic Act 1988, specialist nurses and opticians, amongst other healthcare professionals can complete the medical questionnaire. This is part of an approach by the Government organisation to improve the medical licensing process, while tackling the backlog and relieving the burden on doctors.
By law, all drivers must meet the medical standards for fitness to drive and before now, a doctor will have to complete the DVLA medical forms if the patient needs it. The DVLA will continue to send questionnaires to GMC doctors and consultants, but other healthcare staff involved in the patients’ care can complete it.
GP practices and hospital teams
It will be up to individual GP practices and hospital teams as to which healthcare professional in practice is best placed to complete the questionnaire. Roads Minister, Baroness Vere praised the changes, saying it would benefit both drivers and healthcare workers.
She said: “Obtaining or renewing a driving licence should always be a quick, simple and efficient process. That’s why we’re allowing more healthcare professionals to complete DVLA medical questionnaires to speed up the medical licensing process and ease the burden on GPs.”
It comes as a result of extensive work by DVLA, including a public consultation where 82% of respondents were supportive of the change in law.
It was reported that in 2020 and 2021, the DVLA received 603,000 medical notifications and applications. And the DVLA are expecting to see this number grow every year due to an increased life expectancy, and ageing population and a rise in certain medical conditions.
Multiple medical conditions
In addition to this, cases are also becoming more complex, with more individuals notifying DVLA of multiple medical conditions.
Julie Lennard, Chief Executive of the DVLA, said: “Every year we are receiving an increasing number of medical licensing applications from drivers. This law change, which widens the pool of healthcare professionals who can complete DVLA questionnaires, improves the process for those notifying DVLA of medical conditions whilst reducing the administrative burden on doctors, benefitting drivers and the NHS alike.”
Impacted by the pandemic
The average time taken to receive information from doctors has been severely impacted by the pandemic and other resultant demands on their time, and more than doubling in the last 12 months. It takes roughly 94 calendar days for motorcycle and car licence applications and an average of 75 calendar days for bus and lorry licence applications to be processed.
Previously, only doctors registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) could complete the questionnaires. Although there is no requirement for GP surgeries or hospital teams to make changes to their current processes, the change to the law will now allow medical professionals from the following Councils to complete medical questionnaires on behalf of doctors:
- General Chiropractic Council
- The General Optical Council
- The General Osteopathic Council
- The Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Health and Care Professions Council
Total views : 87447