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| Council send taxi for dead girl http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=25066 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Sat Sep 06, 2014 3:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Council send taxi for dead girl |
Trafford council blunder sees taxi arrive to pick up disabled girl who died days before A town hall blunder led to a taxi being sent to pick-up a severely disabled child for the first day of school - even though she had died days earlier. It is understood the young girl was a pupil at specialist Delamere School in Urmston, Trafford. The girl is believed to have had complex medical needs and required a specialist vehicle to take her to and from school. Trafford council offers transport for children with special educational needs through a number of private firms. Officials had been told of the child’s death but had not passed on the information to the taxi firm. A council spokeswoman said: “Trafford council deeply regrets the fact that a transport vehicle was sent to the family on the first day of the new school year. “We confirm we had been advised of the child’s death, but unfortunately this information was not provided to the contractor so the vehicle could be cancelled for the first day of the new academic year. “This was totally unacceptable. We extended a sincere and unreserved apology to the family for the additional distress this breakdown in communication caused during such a traumatic time. “We are looking to ensure our reporting procedures are tightened up in the future to prevent this type of situation.” Companies, some of which had long-term contracts for the work, were told in July that deals were being scrapped, with council bosses putting the public sector contracts out for tender at lower prices in a bid to save cash. Teachers, parents and opposition councillors claimed the process as ‘shambolic’, saying parents have not been kept informed about the changes. Some parents say they were unsure if their children would get to school, having not been told about new arrangements. Some of the firms who take on the contracts have specially-adapted taxis and minibuses to accommodate children with complex needs. Sale Moor councillor Mike Freeman blamed the mistake on a ‘breakdown in communication’ because of the changes. He said: “As part of the changes, a taxi was sent out for a child with special needs who had tragically died the week before. “Communication has totally and utterly broken down. It’s been shambolic. “I understand the council is trying it to save money, but they did not keep parents informed about the changes. “This has caused a lot of upset. We’re not moving parcels, we’re moving children with special needs, who need proper care. Saving money should not come before treating children with dignity.” Delamere School headteacher, Sally Burston, who declined to comment about the incident specifically, said: “The council cancelled all the existing runs and started again, with no regard to the specialist needs of the children. Parents have been highly distressed. It’s been a nightmare. I have a large number of children with autism, who get used to the same drivers. They needed warning and time to get used to the changes - which they were not given.” source: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... xi-7728497 |
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| Author: | toots [ Sat Sep 06, 2014 6:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Council send taxi for dead girl |
Shocking as it is there is nothing unique about a lack of communication from council transport departments. Ours sent some of the drivers that cover school runs to the old addresses for pupils, failed to tell us that some pupils weren't starting the same day as others and left it til last minute to tell us that some children had turned 18 and wouldn't be going back to school. It appears that all councils seem to have the information sharing problem 
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| Author: | grandad [ Sun Sep 07, 2014 2:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Council send taxi for dead girl |
toots wrote: Shocking as it is there is nothing unique about a lack of communication from council transport departments. Ours sent some of the drivers that cover school runs to the old addresses for pupils, failed to tell us that some pupils weren't starting the same day as others and left it til last minute to tell us that some children had turned 18 and wouldn't be going back to school. It appears that all councils seem to have the information sharing problem They certainly do. One of our contracts has a student that moved 2 years ago. |
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| Author: | ace of spades [ Sun Sep 07, 2014 7:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Council send taxi for dead girl |
I bet the council don't f*ck it up when it's one of their guys that needs a taxi...
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| Author: | Sussex [ Sun Sep 07, 2014 7:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Council send taxi for dead girl |
Were the family really that distressed? If anyone was distressed I suspect it was the driver. |
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