NHS trust to close driving assessment service

10 hours ago

Steve BeechDerby

David Bartle says Derby DrivAbility helped him to regain his independence after major surgery

BBC Middle aged man in glasses with a striped shirt and blue cardigan — David Bartle says Derby DrivAbility helped him to regain his independence after major surgery

A centre which assesses whether people with medical conditions and disabilities are fit to drive is set to close.

Derby DrivAbility is run by the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, which says it will stop running the service from March as it does not make enough money to cover costs.

Anyone with a medical condition or disability who wants their ability to drive assessed will need to travel to Leicester, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester or Yorkshire when the service closes.

A spokesperson for the NHS trust said it was the only hospital trust in the country to provide such a service and its priority "must be on providing high-quality hospital care for patients".

Derby DrivAbility will close in March 2026

Blue sign showing the words Derby DrivAbility — Derby DrivAbility will close in March 2026

David Bartle, 60, feared he would be unable to drive after life-changing surgery in 2011, which left him facing months of rehabilitation, which included learning how to read, write and feed himself again.

The wheelchair user then contacted Derby DrivAbility to assess whether he was capable of driving, and it said he was safe to return to the road.

DrivAbility then helped Bartle find an adapted van which could accommodate his wheelchair and was equipped with cameras and screens because he could not turn his head to look at the vehicle's mirrors.

Bartle, from Allestree, said: "I found I couldn't drive a normal car, but after a lots of chasing around they found a solution which worked for me."

Bartle fears DrivAbility's closure will severely disadvantage disabled people like him.

"It's just awful," he said. "And I'd just like to say to the NHS bosses - you yourself may need to use the service yourself one day and it won't be there."

David Bartle's vehicle is fitted with cameras and screens which he uses instead of wing mirrors

Driver's position in a vehicle with two video screens above the steering wheel — David Bartle's vehicle is fitted with cameras and screens which he uses instead of wing mirrors

A spokesperson for University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust said it was the only NHS acute hospital provider in the country to provide the service, which runs at a financial loss.

The spokesperson added in a statement it was "committed to supporting affected staff while working closely with relevant partners to ensure a smooth transition."

Fitness to drive assessments are also available through the Regional Driving Assessment Centre, which has centres in Leicester, Cannock, Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Salford.

The William Merritt Centre, which is located in Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster, York and Scarborough, also provides assessments.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We are aware the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust has determined it cannot continue to support Derby's Mobility Centre service.

"This will be disappointing news for the people who use this service, and we are working with the Trust and other nearby Mobility Centre operators to explore options so people in Derbyshire can continue to access driving assessments."

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