Mobility Feature
The importance of driving
As the Scottish Driving Assessment Service celebrate its 40th anniversary , Alison Anderson tells us about its history and a recent gathering to mark the milestone .
C urrent and previous staff of the Scottish Driving Assessment Service recently gathered to mark 40 years of providing assessment and advice on driving and passenger travel to people in Scotland with a medical condition or physical impairment .
As part of NHS Lothian , the Scottish Driving Assessment Service is based in the SMART Centre at Astley Ainslie Hospital , Edinburgh , and has recently registered its 30,000th patient .
This innovative service was one of the first of its kind to open in the UK and serves the whole of Scotland . Funded by the NHS , all assessments are carried out free at the point of delivery and under NHS clinical governance standards .
The service was established thanks to the determination and direction of Dr John Hunter , previously Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine at Astley Ainslie Hospital , and the first patient was seen in August 1983 .
The first occupational therapist was employed in 1987 and the contribution of occupational therapy staff over the years has been invaluable in helping the service to develop , with four occupational therapists now working in the service .
Referrals are received from NHS GPs and hospital consultants across Scotland who are seeking an opinion on their patients ’ medical fitness to drive ( or where the patient themselves has requested referral for advice on vehicle modifications ), and also directly from the medical team at DVLA , when they require a specialist driving assessment as part of their medical enquiries into an individual ’ s driving licence application .
The occupational therapy staff at the Scottish Driving Assessment Service work independently to carry out a comprehensive assessment of patients to ascertain their
Mobility Feature
fitness to drive a car , need for adapted controls and ability to participate in driver re-training .
A national information and advice service is also provided by telephone on all aspects of driving and car travel for people with medical conditions and / or disabilities .
The service has grown over the years and is now assessing around 1,000 patients a year , with a wide range of medical conditions and physical impairments . It has also been involved in the establishment of driving assessment standards across the UK , as well as contributing to European-wide projects .
Since the pandemic , remote consultations have been used to carry out an initial assessment prior to patients attending the centre to complete their assessment , including the onroad part .
These are done using either a video ( NHS Near Me / Attend Anywhere ) or telephone call , and have proved to be helpful for both patients and clinicians . It provides an opportunity for the clinician to explain what is involved in a driving assessment , to gain relevant background information and for the patient to ask any questions before they attend our centre .
Dr Lynne Hutton , current consultant in charge of the Scottish Driving Assessment Service , says : ‘ Current research provides clear evidence that stopping driving is associated with increased rates of depression and mortality , as well as the more obvious reduction in social functioning which reduces quality of life .
‘ The value of being able to offer this service cannot be underestimated in relation to the safety and health of people throughout Scotland .’
She added : ‘ The ability to offer this as a national service , with the ongoing opportunity to contribute to national and European assessment standards , makes working in this service incredibly interesting and worthwhile .’
Words ALISON ANDERSON , OT Advanced Practitioner , Scottish Driving Assessment Service , SMART Centre , Astley Ainslie Hospital . Contact alison . xx . anderson @ nhslothian . scot . nhs . uk or visit https :// bit . ly / 3Qouk7C
Above : Current and previous staff of the Scottish Driving Assessment Service
May 2024 OTnews 15