Taxi Driver Online

July 13, 2006 Thursday

HEADLINE: Hospital launches free taxi trial for disabled

BYLINE: Natalie Murphy

Derby City General Hospital has launched a free taxi service to help disabled people get around the site. The five-day trial has been introduced because work on the £333m superhospital development has made the site more difficult to navigate.

Blue-badge holders are picked up from a car park by the taxis and taken to their appointment. To arrange the return journey, patients have to ask a member of staff to call the taxi driver.

They are then collected from the nearest entrance at an agreed time. The yellow cab is run by 72 Taxis and can take up to six passengers.

Lynda Hanson, head of facilities management, said: "We appreciate that the construction of the new hospital presents some difficulties for our disabled patients in particular and this is why we want to do everything possible to make things easier for them.

"If the taxi trial proves successful, we will look at introducing the service on a more permanent basis." The service is already proving to be a hit with passengers. Jane Oldershaw (37), of Hilton, said: "The taxi picked me straight up from the car park and took me to my appointment without me having to find where I was going."

Because of the building work, some routes are blocked or unsafe and some of the temporary ones are too narrow for disabled patients. Other measures have been put in place to help disabled people get around the hospital.

Mrs Hanson said: "We've introduced a site bus which features a low access ramp for disabled users and all patients are able to use this service.
"The bus circulates the site every 10 minutes, dropping patients off at key entrances. It has proved extremely successful, with around 900 patient journeys each day."

Although the bus is popular, its size prevents it being able to provide a door-to-door service in all areas. The design of the new hospital has also taken into account the needs of disabled people and other patients for getting around.

Construction of a 120-place car park near the Kings Treatment Centre will enable easier access for all patients. Disabled places are currently provided in car park two - 10 near the children's entrance and 12 by entrance nine.
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