SWANSEA

THE family of an 85 year-old woman who suffered life-changing injuries after being thrown from a taxi which was driven off while she tried to get in is due to get a police update tomorrow on their investigation.

They, along with Swansea Council, which licences taxis, are both looking into the December 14 incident outside Tesco's Oystermouth Road store.

Eirwen Ferguson spent three- and-a-half weeks in hospital and now has to wear a hearing aid after damaging a ear when she was thrown to the ground.

Mrs Ferguson, who is disabled, got a white taxi from Tesco with two friends. The other women were in the taxi when it pulled away as she tried to get in. She was thrown from the car, hitting the right side of her head on the concrete.

A shopper helped Mrs Ferguson up and asked the driver, who had stopped close-by, to call an ambulance. But instead, he drove her and her friends home to Sketty.

That night Mrs Ferguson was monitored medically by one of her daughters, who is a nurse, and went to Morriston Hospital the following day when she became unwell. She had facial abrasions and bruising and an X-ray revealed a fractured wrist. She was discharged but a week later went back for a fracture review and suffered a cardiac collapse from delayed shock and trauma. She was in hospital for three-and-a-half weeks.

Another daughter, Liz Almond, said: "We are seeing the police on Wednesday for an update. My mum is still not brilliant. She is very jittery. She is seeing a consultant on March 8 about her ears."

Mrs Ferguson is still hoping to meet the woman who helped to thank her.

South Wales Police and the council are both carrying out investigations.

http://goo.gl/e1cCOK
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 NOTTINGHAM

 Transport firm hails success after building army of taxi companies

Cabline UK works with a network of taxi companies across the country to provide its business clients with transport. It's expected to increase its turnover by £2 million this year, and again in 2017. Rebecca Smith-Dawkins reports.

Call for a taxi anywhere across the country and Cabline UK can have one to you in around 20 minutes.

Its clients may need transport for any number of reasons, from rail, ferry and airport transfers to urgent deliveries and emergency or breakdown support.

But it doesn't work alone – Cabline UK has an army of taxi companies ready to dispatch its drivers at any time of the day or night.

Business director Steve Madge says: "Our clients can call us 24/7 and book a taxi to go anywhere in the UK.

"Our suppliers are happy because they get regular work. We have a waiting list of [taxi] firms that want to come on board."

Cabline UK, which employs 50 staff at its office in Beeston, also provides coaches and buses to events and as emergency rail replacement.

It broke through the £10 million barrier last year, and is expected to increase its turnover by another £2 million in 2016 after winning new contracts with Virgin Trains West Coast, National Express and Greater Anglia Trains.

http://goo.gl/TeJLRp
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 A disheartened pensioner says she is “furious” at not being able to get a taxi on a Saturday night for her disabled husband.

Angry Doreen Palfreyman, aged 73, of Dunvegan Avenue, Danesmoor, says that all her wheelchair-bound husband John wants to do is play bingo on a Saturday night at North Wingfield Working Mens Club on Chesterfield Road.
John, also aged 73, has no legs after problems with his blood flow, which caused him to get gangrene. He has also suffered a stroke and a heart attack.
“John stays in all day and all night and I just want to be able to take him out,” Doreen said.
“I have telephoned taxi firms in Chesterfield and Alfreton but I cannot get anybody to do it.
“He is disgusted. He just wants to go out and have a game of bingo.
“I am furious.”

Former miner John used to visit Bestwood Working Mens Club before it closed at Christmas.

John and Doreen then started going to the working mens club at North Wingfield in a friend’s mini bus but that is no longer possible.

Doreen says that when she telephones the taxi services and explains her husband’s situation, the firms say they don’t do wheelchair access on Saturday nights.

She says that she has called more than 10 firms in the area but has now exhausted all options.
“When I ask ‘can I book a taxi please’ they say ‘yes when do you want one for’ but then they say ‘oh no we don’t do it’,” Doreen said.

“We only want to go two miles.

“John used to be able to go to Bestwood club on his scooter - we were devastated when it closed.

“He cannot get in a car because he has got to be in a wheelchair.”

John said: “It is not fair.
“I like to play bingo and listen to the artists.”

http://goo.gl/yKWlMn