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DVLA AORTIC STENOSIS Fitness to Drive Guidance

4th July 2023

Dear BCIS member,

The DVLA altered its guidance on Fitness to Drive for patients with aortic stenosis in 2021. All patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis (irrespective of grade) were debarred from driving. This change greatly inconvenienced patients with aortic stenosis who had only mild symptoms. BCIS has lobbied the Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Disorders of the Cardiovascular system to change this guidance, as we believed the change was not justified and, perhaps unwittingly, resulted in patients with moderate aortic stenosis and mild breathlessness being banned from driving. We are very pleased to report that the guidance has now been altered. There is no longer any bar to driving for patients with mild or moderate aortic stenosis. Patients with severe aortic stenosis are only required to notify the DVLA if the driver’s clinician considers that their symptoms may impact upon safe driving. This is a considerable change of emphasis, which we welcome.

The change is reflected in the official minutes of the panel, which can be accessed here.

This change will be included in the next full version of the DVLA Fitness to Drive Guide for Professionals. However, the revised guidance can be adopted immediately in line with the published minutes.

Dan Blackman, BCIS Structural Group Lead

Dave Hildick-Smith, BCIS President