The DVLA has launched a consultation on widening the pool of healthcare professionals that can complete DVLA medical questionnaires.
By law all drivers must meet the medical standards for fitness to drive and each year DVLA makes 500,000 medical licensing decisions. To help make these decisions, DVLA often requires questionnaires to be completed by a driver’s doctor or consultant.
But in many cases other healthcare professionals, such as nurse practitioners, would be more involved in patient treatment and therefore equally well-placed to complete the questionnaire.
Last month the Government included proposals to reduce the administrative burden of DVLA checks on GPs, as part of its so-called rescue package for general practice.
The DVLA is seeking views on changing the law to enable healthcare professionals other than GMC-registered medical practitioners to complete DVLA medical questionnaires.
This forms part of an approach by DVLA to improve and speed up medical licensing processes.
The consultation will until run until 6 December and is available here.
