Psychiatric Bulletin (2000) 24: 304-306. doi: 10.1192/pb.24.8.304
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Psychiatric Bulletin (2000) 24: 304-306
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Driving in Somerset

Stefan Jan Kolowski, Specialist Registrar in Old Age Psychiatry and Jackie Rossiter, Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry

Taunton Community Psychiatric Unit, Cheddon Road, Taunton TA2 7AU

AIMS AND METHODS

The number of drivers on our roads with dementia is likely to increase as the elderly population grows. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients referred to our Memory Clinic in Taunton who were still driving despite a high suspicion of dementia.

RESULTS

Twenty per cent of the patients were still driving at the time of their assessment. Ten per cent had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and 10% mild cognitive impairment. The patients and/or carers stated that the patient had not been told to stop driving and none of the referral letters documented any advice about driving.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Referrers should advise all patients with possible dementia to refrain from driving until assessment by a specialist team is completed. They should be informed of the risk of medico-legal consequences if they continue to drive.




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