The hospital trust is “researching” the idea after Uber taxis, a private-hire company, struck a deal with the country’s largest NHS Trust, Barts Health, and social care company Cera to provide transport for vulnerable, non-emergency patients.
The deal will see patients able to use Uber’s mobile app for journeys including hospital appointments and getting “out-and-about” when they might otherwise be housebound or reliant on family and friends.
David Evans, associate director of estates and facilities at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust, said: “WWL is interested to learn of the venture that Barts Health NHS Trust has instigated with the social care company Cera.
“It would not be appropriate to comment further on the detail of any such scheme ourselves without first conducting extensive research into the benefits for the trust and our patients. I would also add that with any contracts such as these, the safety of our patients would be a primary consideration.
“We will be making contact with Barts Health NHS Trust to find out more.”
Chiefs at Cera have said that the firm will use the UberAssist disabled access cars and the UberWav service for wheelchair users.
It will also be available to carers, who can use the mobile app alongside traditional forms of transport to determine the most efficient for moving people.
Dr Ben Maruthappu, Cera’s president, said that the move would “radically integrate care and transport through technology”.
The idea has also been supported by David Mowat MP of the Department of Health.
Despite getting the backing of a number of health and social care chiefs, concerns have still been raised about the feasibility of the new taxi deal with Uber.
The general secretary of Unison, which is the country’s largest public sector union, has warned of potential pitfalls in funding the project.
Dave Prentis said: “Social care and the NHS are in such a state of crisis that any initiative to ease the pressure will be welcomed by patients and staff.
“But the funding chasm between what is needed and the pitiful amount councils currently have to commission care is too deep.
“Nothing short of an emergency injection of cash in the Budget, followed by the sustained and realistic funding of health and care will be enough.”
http://www.wigantoday.net/news/trust-to-delve-into-uber-taxi-patient-deal-1-8424496
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A taxi driver who smashed his girlfriend in the face fracturing her cheekbone wept as he dodged a jail sentence.
Judge Huw Rees, sitting at Caernarfon Crown Court today, told Martin Loader, 42, who had assaulted another partner: “You are not a bad man.
"You are not a violent man but you did something which was completely wrong.”
In the latest assault Loader admitted a charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Rachel Davies.
Judge Huw Rees said while a prison term could be justified he would suspend a 10-month sentence for 12 months.
Before sentence was passed the court heard Loader punched Ms Davies, shattering her cheekbone during an incident at their mid Wales home last February.
James Coutts, prosecuting, said the couple argued during the day and when Loader returned later the argument continued.
He said there had been some volatility in the relationship and during the row Ms Davies, 45, had pushed Loader “forcefully” in the chest.
Loader had then punched her once to the face fracturing her cheekbone near the right eye.
“By hitting a woman you degraded yourself,” the judge remarked.
Ms Davies was taken to the local hospital and was subsequently transferred to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital but the injury did not need surgery the court heard.
The judge noted that immediately after delivering the blow Loader had apologised to Ms Davies and continued to apologise in the following days.
When arrested a month later Loader now of School Hill, Bolton but previously of Welshpool, refused to answer police questions.
In addition to his sentence Loader must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and attend rehabilitation sessions organised by thr Probation Service.
He was also made the subject of a Restraining Order for five years and ordered to pay £535 costs.
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BRIGHTON
A court has turned down an appeal by a Hove cabbie after his taxi driving licence was revoked by Brighton and Hove City Council.
Mohammed Chebbi, 52, of Egmont Road, Hove, lost his hackney carriage licence – the licence to drive a taxi – in September after his ex-wife claimed that he was violent.
Mr Chebbi’s case was heard at Brighton Magistrates’ Court this afternoon (Tuesday 7 March) with the council saying that he was not a fit and proper person to drive a taxi.
Mike Tyler, for the council, said that Mr Chebbi was expected to drive vulnerable people, including children, but the council was concerned that he might not provide a safe and secure environment.
Mr Tyler said: “He failed to exercise self-control and exhibited behaviours and attitudes that gave considerable cause for concern.
“He assaulted his wife, which he disputes, (and) he holds attitudes and values that are deeply worrying.”
Mr Tyler told the magistrates that the purpose of the taxi licensing regime was to protect the public, not a driver’s trade.
Mr Tyler also said that the council’s Hackney Carriage Office had received complaints in the past, including that he blocked a road then lost his temper when asked to move. Mr Chebbi also disputed this.
While the law did not say what made someone a fit and proper person, Mr Tyler cited a commonly accepted test: “Would you allow your son or daughter, spouse or partner, mother or father, grandson or grand-daughter or other person you cared about to get into this vehicle with this person alone?
“To give Mr Chebbi his licence back could put others at risk.”
Mr Chebbi said: “I’ve been out of work for six months. I’ve got bills … I am here, pleading for my job.”
He said that the claims against him came from his ex-wife Aida Nfissi, 35, of Mile Oak Road, Portslade, and should not be taken on trust as evidence.
He had held his licence for more than 22 years – since October 1994 – and had a good record and the support of his bosses.
He said: “No one has witnessed me being violent to my ex-wife.”
He said that he had no criminal convictions – and the court accepted this.
In evidence a senior council officer, Jo Player, told the court that since the Rotherham child sexual exploitation case, local authorities had become more aware of potential risks.
She said: “We will take into account things such as domestic violence as one of the factors we will look at when we consider whether the public are being put at risk.
“We take all aspects of safeguarding seriously. If there have been allegations that domestic violence has been going on, there is a concern that they don’t have control of their temper and if confronted by a passenger who is argumentative might not act in a controlled way.”
She also said that the council had been made aware of a claim that a child had been seen not wearing a seatbelt in Mr Chebbi’s car.
Jo Player told the court: “I believe it shows that he is not taking child safety seriously.”
In response to her evidence, Mr Chebbi told the court: “If she is concerned that my mood might change, we’ve got CCTV cameras in the taxi.
We’d be foolish to misbehave.”
Mr Chebbi, who is originally from Tunisia, said: “I’ve been living in this country for 28 years and I’ve never been convicted or charged with anything.
“I’ve had British nationality since 1993 and I’ve been a taxi driver for 23 years since October 1994.
“When you renew your licence every three years you have to have a (criminal records check) and it shows I am clean. In the eye of the law I am a clean person until proven otherwise.
“I’ve been working for the company for 22 years and I have picked up vulnerable old people, vulnerable children, I have taken home people who are drunk or drugged at 3am. I care for them. I have never been violent.
“If they thought I was unfit, they should have revoked my licence years and years ago.
“All the reports are biased against me. They are not balanced. All this came from my ex-wife. She is the source of all the information.
“If they think those allegations are serious, how come I haven’t been charged and convicted.
“In this country you are innocent until proven guilty. You have to provide complete evidence, not allegations.
“I love my job and I pay my dues. Some people can discriminate. Some people can be racist.
“I’ve been abused in my taxi. I’ve been called names, particularly after 9/11 and the (Iraq) war.”
Mr Tyler criticised Mr Chebbi’s attitude, saying: “You say, it’s all your wife’s fault. She made it up. It’s just revenge.”
He told the court: “The purpose of the regime is to protect the public from any threat the driver may pose.
“You should put aside his personal circumstances and bear in mind the purpose of the regime which is to protect the public.”
The court upheld the revocation and ordered Mr Chebbi to pay £500 towards the council’s costs.
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SOUTHEND
A Holiday maker who threatened to take taxi bosses to court after he had to drive himself to the airport is now being sued by the company.
The Echo told in December that customer Phillip Woods, 56, of The Maze, Eastwood, wanted Andrews Taxis to reimburse his parking costs after he paid £160 to leave his car at Southend Airport - just three miles away from his home - for a week.
He had ordered a taxi to drop him and wife Christine off for their flight to Menorca - but the couple faced an hour wait.
As Mr Woods did not book a cab in advance, Andrews Taxis, based in Chase Road, Southend, said his journey was subject to traffic levels and other potential delays.
He eventually dropped the claim - saying ill health prevented him from continuing with the case.
The firm has now taken the decision to counter-sue for costs, believing that evidence stacked against Mr Woods was the real reason behind his U-turn.
John Watson, managing director of the company, said: “Once all the evidence was sorted out, including voice recordings and the GPS tracking logs, Mr Woods decided to stop the claim.
“We can only assume that, in the face of overwhelming evidence contradicting his version of events, it wasn’t how he first thought of it.
“Otherwise, why would he decide to drop the case? He clearly didn’t realise that everything is logged here.
“Now what should have been a £10 taxi fare is going to cost him hundreds of pounds as we are counter-suing for costs.”
Andrews Taxis is now suing Mr Woods for £260, which is the cost of setting the case aside.
Mr Woods insisted a call handler told him a taxi would take just 15 minutes to reach him, but when the story first broke the firm denied this was true.
Mr Watson added: “My advice to anyone travelling to time-critical destinations is to always pre-book a taxi.
“If they don’t, they risk traffic issues and the roads being busier than expected.
“Get yourself organised and don’t blame everyone else if you don’t.
“The claim certainly caused us a lot of inconvenience and has been costly which is why we’re claiming those back.
“But I don’t think it has actually affected our business’s reputation. We haven’t noticed any loss of custom.”
Mr Woods told the Echo he was suffering from a number of health issues which meant the claim was “the last thing” on his mind.
After being informed of his response, Mr Watson said: “I am sorry to hear of Mr Woods’ ill health and I will take this into consideration.”
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Eleven taxi drivers in Denbighshire face being suspended or losing their licences for failing to attend a sexual exploitation course.
All drivers in the county were ordered to attend the training after the Rotherham child sex abuse scandal inquiry found taxi drivers had played a "prominent role" in the abuse.
More than 300, about 97%, attended.
Denbighshire council will decide on Tuesday whether to take action against those who did not.
A report to the council said five current taxi drivers were not licensed at the time.
Of the six others, one was not able to attend as he had another day job, and another was out of the country.
Councillors' options include revoking or suspending their licences, considering their renewal applications or convening a special hearing.
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