The United Kingdom Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)regulations provides guidence to drivers affected of psychiatric conditions and/or taking psychotropic medication. These regulations place the duty in the doctor to inform the patient of the impact of the diagnosis in the ability to drive and to remind them of their responsibility to inform the DVLA. This duty is not clearly spelled for other health professionals. In the United Kingdom, “New Ways of Working” refer to a process of reviewing the traditional roles of doctors and other disciplines with a view of enhancing patient care. Many patients that in the past would have been seen by a doctor may not see one and as a result may not receive advice regarding their fitness to drive.

To explore the knowledge and attitudes of mental health nurses with regard to DVLA fitness to drive regulations.

To identify if New Ways of Working has created a gap in legislation that can put patients and the general public at risk.

A survey was conducted in South Staffordshire amongst psychiatrists and menatl health nurses to compare their knowledge and attitudes towards DVLA regulations.

Although there were difference sin knowledge regarding specific conditions and ability to drive there were also similarities in the reluctance to inform patients as a result of the potential consecuences on the patient or the therapeutic relationship.

The authors beleive that a gap has been identified in the process of informing patients with regards to their driving