Taxi drivers fear hike in cost of medicals after losing GP choiceTAXI drivers in Derby will be forced to have their regular medicals with their own GPs after councillors decided they could be putting public safety at risk by using other doctors.
Derby City Council's taxi licensing and appeals committee decided on the change after it emerged that assessments were being carried out by GPs without the drivers' medical records.
An officers' report for the committee says one example of the problems this could cause emerged at a recent hearing to decide if a driver should get a licence.
Councillor Barbara Jackson, chairman of the committee, said: "It became apparent that they [the driver] had a drinking-related problem, which may not have been identified by the independent GP."
The report states that one reason drivers gave for going to independent doctors was the high cost.
It lists the results of a survey which found six GP surgeries in the city where charges for a medical varied between £30 and £120.
Mrs Jackson said the 12-person committee had been split on whether or not to make the change, leaving her with the casting vote.
She said: "My feeling was and is that a person's own doctor is able to make a better assessment of them. It's our responsibility to make sure that licensed drivers are in safe vehicles and are safe drivers."
Another who voted for the change was Councillor Ruth Skelton.
She said: "For the safety of everyone, they should go to their own GP as they have their medical records."
Mohammed Yasin, director of Derby firm 75 Taxis, said the council decision should come with a pledge to put pressure on GPs to reduce their fees.
He said: "It's not that these people are not fit, it's just that they can be left paying extortionate fees.
"A driver's own GP might charge more than double that of an independent doctor they can find for their examination.
"If the council is going to do this, it should work to persuade doctors to charge less than they do at the moment."
Mr Yasin said drivers needed to have a medical every three years until they reach 60, when they become annual.
The officers' report says that regular medicals, for the city's 1,400 licensed taxi drivers, were introduced in 2005.
It says some medical assessments were being made "solely on the word of the applicant and often with no medical examination being taken".
Asked why the change had been considered now, Mrs Jackson said: "The council constantly reviews its rules and procedures.
"Changes were last made in 2008 and it has become apparent recently that a review may be necessary in order to maintain public safety."
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