Taxi Driver Online

Heart patient abandoned in snow by taxi driver


A DISABLED grandfather was found collapsed in the snow when a taxi driver hired to drive him home after emergency hospital treatment abandoned him on the roadside.

Heart patient Brian Duffell, 75, who needs a mobility scooter to go even short distances, was found by family friends slumped in sub-zero temperatures on the ground in Fernbank Road, North Ascot - still half a mile from his home in Ranelagh Crescent.

Yesterday bosses at Reading’s Royal Berkshire Hospital apologised but Mr Duffell’s shocked daughter Lorraine Adams told the News: “I truly believe that he would be dead if it wasn’t for my friends. When they found him he said he couldn’t go any further.”

Mr Duffell, who had only just recovered from a chest infection, was taken by ambulance to A&E at the Royal Berks on Saturday afternoon with an irregular heartbeat, after collapsing at Sainsbury’s in Bagshot Road, Bracknell.

Doctors carried out tests before deciding he would be better off at home but Mrs Adams, who lives in Warfield, was told not to go and pick him up because she had been vomiting and suffering with an upset stomach.

Instead staff told her not to worry and ordered a taxi at the hospital’s expense to take him home on Saturday evening.

But when the taxi reached the Golden Cup pub in Fernbank Road the driver refused to go any further and, despite Mr Duffell’s pleas, ordered him out of the car.

He began walking but collapsed at the roadside near the Fernbank Road-Mill Ride junction, still half a mile from home, where he was spotted by friends John and Jane Money who were on their way to check on him at Mrs Adams’ request.

Mrs Adams said: “Where they found him it was a very, very steep hill he had to climb, it was at least half a mile away from his home. “He would have trouble walking, even when it’s not snowing. “You wouldn’t leave an elderly man even if he was well. I think it is appalling that a taxi company can get paid for doing that.”

Mrs Adams said her father, who has three grandchildren, is recovering well from his ordeal but she added: “I don’t want this happening to anyone else, it never should have happened.”

Hospital spokesman Joe Wise, who refused to identify the company involved, confirmed that the driver felt the road was impassable due to heavy snow and he was unable to complete the journey.

Mr Wise added: “Although the journey was the responsibility of the taxi company, as soon as we were made aware of the situation we apologised to Mr Duffell’s family, and the duty sister in the emergency department will be contacting him to discuss the matter further.

“We are contacting the taxi company to raise our concerns and to ensure a similar situation does not happen in the future.”

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/ ... /articles/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

What a fecking [edited by admin], the driver should have returned him to the hospital
I hope the council investigates this and the the hospital bins the taxi number

The taxi involved was (allegedly) a Skoda Octavia with winter tyres on, so no wonder it didn't make it up the one in fifty hill.

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Former taxi driver

Surely the driver must have realised that the passenger couldn't walk the rest of the way ? It sounds as if he didn't even attempt to get to the destination very unprofessional

Don't winter tyres go up hills

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Skippy dont work that far south does he

Yes Toots, they do work, and I can get to my house no problem as you know its at the top of 2 hills
Its just Jimbo being jealous as his new bread van sledge, wont even run on the flat

If he stopped on Fernbank he never got anywhere near the poor chaps home but the joining road looks like a "no grit" area (mill ride) but doesnt look that steep

still doesnt account for not advising the hospital though, or did the old boy want the pub?....

If he says.................okay you cannot drive any further, I will get out here.......................Who can stop him!

You cannot keep a fare dodger in your car to take to a police station,so bare in mind............the driver is not privy to the medical condition or records of the person concerned and cannot without permission, return without the guy saying so. At that age he will want home..........not a hospital.

I am sure that he would have loved to have had a return................DOUBLE FARE!!!!!!!!

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

a 14 mile trip, seems a shame to drop him 500yds from home!

Must be a big house to be on top of TWO hills - is there a bridge from one wing to the other at "Chez Skippies"?

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I think he said it was at the top of 2 hills and not on 2 hills and indeed it is

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

f*ckin bushmills more like

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin