Thousands of driving licence applications will be sped up thanks to a new law. A new driving license law came into force on Wednesday, July 20, to help speed up the licensing process.
The new law means that all healthcare professionals will be able to complete DVLA medical questionnaires, rather than just doctors. The amendment to the Road Traffic Act 1988 means specialist nurses and opticians, as well as other healthcare professionals, can complete the medical questionnaire reports Glasgow Live.
It had been announced by the DVLA that this questionnaire would take place following any notification of a medical condition that could affect the driving of an individual. This new law has been done as part of an approach by the Government to improve the medical licencing process, whilst also tackling the backlog and helping to relieve the burden on doctors.
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All drivers must meet the medical standards for fitness to drive by law. Before now a doctor would have to complete the DVLA medical forms if the patients need it, and the DVLA will continue to send questionnaires to GMC doctors and consultants.
However, now other healthcare staff involved in patient care will be able to complete the questionnaire. To which healthcare professional in practice is best placed to complete the questionnaire will be left up to individual GP practices and hospital teams.
Roads Minister, Baroness Vere, praised the changes and feels 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.” This change comes as a result of extensive work by the DVLA, which included a public consultation where 82% of respondents were supportive of the change in law being made.
In 2020 and 2021, it was reported that the DVLA received 603,000 medical notifications and applications, and they are expecting this number to grow every year due to an increased life expectancy, ageing population and rise in certain medical conditions. Cases are also becoming more complex, with more individuals notifying the 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."
The pandemic has severely impacted the average time taken to receive information from doctors, and has more than doubled in the last year. It takes on average 94 calendar days for motorcycle and car licence applications, and an average of 75 calendar days for bus and lorry license applications to be processed.
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