Important advice for Doctors, Nurses and other Clinicians

This is to assist Sleep Specialists and others associated with Sleep Clinics to accurately advise patients on what they need to do when a patient is suspected of having or has been diagnosed with sleep apnoea.

This is especially important on a risk analysis basis when they have a vocational driving job or are in a position for which vigilance is critical for safety.

British Thoracic Society
The British Thoracic Society’s position statement “Driving and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) 2018  is the best and most precise guidance for GPs, Sleep Specialist staff and CCGs/Trusts in managing patients. It also advises exactly how to handle the complexity clinicians and patients face when dealing with the legal requirements of the DVLA.

The only area not covered is the necessity of the patient, if they have to inform the DVLA, to also inform their insurance company, as this is a contractual obligation and could result in withdrawal of cover.

DVLA
The DVLA has an excellent publication that is updated regularly, packed full of information and is updated regularly

DVLA – Assessing Fitness to Drive – A Guide for Medical Professionals – November 2025

Driving involves a complex and rapidly repeating cycle that requires a level of skill and the ability to interact simultaneously with both the vehicle and the external environment. Information about the environment is via the visual and auditory senses and is acted on by many cognitive processes (including short-and long-term memory, and judgement) to effect decisions for the driving task in hand. These decisions are enacted by the musculoskeletal system, which acts on the controls of the vehicle and its relation to the road and other users. The whole process is coordinated by complex interactions involving behaviour, strategic and tactical abilities, and personality. In the face of illness or disability, adaptive strategies are important for maintaining safe driving. Safe driving requires, among other elements, the involvement of:

• vision
• visuospatial perception
• hearing
• attention and concentration
• memory
• insight and understanding
• judgement
• adaptive strategies
• good reaction time
• planning and organisation
• ability to self-monitor
• sensation
• muscle power and control

Given these requirements, it follows that many body systems need to be functional for safe driving – and injury or disease may affect any one or more of these abilities. Notwithstanding this, many short term conditions do not require notification to the DVLA. The guidelines and their development The drivers’ medical section within the DVLA deals with all aspects of driver licensing when there are medical conditions that impact, or potentially impact, on safe control of a vehicle. To do this, the DVLA develops and works within guidance, and this publication summarises the national medical guidelines on fitness to drive. It is intended to assist doctors and other healthcare professionals in advising their patients:

• whether or not the DVLA requires notification of a medical condition
• what the licensing outcome from the DVLA’s medical enquiries is likely to be.

Some of the guidelines – for example, those around diabetes mellitus, epilepsy and vision – are set against legislative requirements (see Appendix A for details) but others are the result of advice from the six Honorary Medical Advisory Panels to the Secretary of State, which cover:

• cardiology
• neurology
• diabetes
• vision
• alcohol or substance misuse and dependence

Each panel consists of acknowledged experts in the relevant area and includes DVLA and lay membership. The panels meet biannually and, between meetings, give continual advice to the Secretary of State and the DVLA. The medical standards are continually reviewed and updated when indicated in light of recent developments in medicine generally, and traffic medicine in particular. The most up-to-date version of this guide will always be online on GOV.UK

GMC Confidentiality
We also include the latest version of the General Medical Councils Guidance on Patient Confidentiality, both to keep clinicians updated and inform patients.

Airlines
We have been informed that you are now being frequently asked about flying and CPAP.

SATA has up to date information on all the airlines flying from the UK, with a simple traffic light guide as follows:

Airlines in Green – allow CPAP used on seat power where available, otherwise batteries
Airlines in Yellow – specify battery use at all times (even when power is available)
Airlines in Red – No CPAP usage allowed, or no positive information on website