GPs can now defer driving questionnaires to other healthcare professionals

A change to the law means that doctors can now defer medical questionnaires for drivers’ licences to other healthcare professionals including specialist nurses and opticians, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has announced

The change to the Road Traffic Act 1988, brought in on 20 July, should “speed up the medical licensing process and ease the burden on GPs,” roads minister Charlotte Vere has said. Before this, only doctors could complete these forms.

But the change in law does not apply to the D4 Medical Examination Report—which are for lorry or bus driving licences—and these will still need to be completed by a doctor or consultant who is registered with the GMC.

Drivers are legally obliged to tell the DVLA if they have developed a new medical condition or if an existing medical condition has worsened. When this happens, the DVLA sometimes requires extra information from the person’s medical record. As such, they will write to their doctor requesting specific information.

The agency has said the combination of increased life expectancy, an ageing population, and a rise in certain medical conditions has seen the number of health notifications reported continue to grow every year, with cases becoming ever more complex. ​​In 2020-21, the DVLA received 603 000 medical notifications and applications.

Following the law change, the agency will continue to send questionnaires to doctors but it will then be up to individual GP practices and hospital teams to decide which eligible member of staff is best placed to complete the questionnaire.

Healthcare professionals from the General Chiropractic Council, General Optical Council, General Osteopathic Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Health and Care Professions Council will be able to complete the questionnaires on behalf of doctors.

DVLA chief executive Julie Lennard said, “Every year there is an increase in the 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 while reducing the administrative burden on doctors, benefitting drivers and the NHS alike.”