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<p>The table below shows the number of drivers medical cases waiting to be resolved
on 1 September 2021 and 1 September 2022. The figures include new applications/notifications
and driving licence renewal applications. It is important to note that the DVLA is
often reliant on information from third parties, for example NHS medical professionals,
before a decision on whether to issue a licence can be made. Currently, around 47
per cent of cases are awaiting information from a third party.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>1
September 2021</p></td><td><p>272,838</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1 September 2022</p></td><td><p>225,843</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The
length of time taken to deal with an application for a driving licence where a medical
condition must be investigated depends on the condition(s) involved and whether further
information or clinical tests are required from healthcare professionals.</p><p>To
reduce waiting times for customers, the law was changed on 20 July to widen the pool
of healthcare professionals who can provide medical information to support an application
for a driving licence. The DVLA has also recruited more staff and opened new customer
service centres in Swansea and Birmingham which are focused on medical applications.</p><p>It
is important to note that most applicants will be able to continue driving while their
application is being processed, providing they meet specific criteria. More information
can be found online <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla"
target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p> </p>
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