Taxi Driver Online

Daily Mail (London)

October 24, 2006 Tuesday

HEADLINE: Safety rules forbid us from carrying you upstairs, paramedics tell a woman of 82;

DIGNITY FOR THE ELDERLY CAMPAIGN

A WOMAN of 82 was forced to drag herself up a set of steps after ambulancemen said they could not help her because of health and safety rules.

Ellen Summers had to shuffle up the stairs on her bottom and pull herself backwards along a corridor to get into her home.

Earlier that day, nurses had put a splint on her leg after she had suffered a fall.

The pensioner insists that the crew made no attempt to help her after they dropped her off at her house from Bradford's Royal Infirmary.

It was only when she finally reached her sofa that the ambulancemen helped her into a sitting position, saying health and safety guidelines had prevented them from lifting people. Incredibly, Mrs Summers is only 5ft tall and weighs just nine stone.

Her daughter Patricia Wells, of Leeds, is now demanding to know why her mother was 'treated in such an inhumane and degrading way'. She said: 'The trauma of the fall was bad enough for her to cope with but after having to drag herself into the house she was left exhausted and for a person with a heart condition this could have proved fatal.' Mrs Summers, who has had three knee replacements, fell earlier that afternoon while getting off her sofa.

Her other daughter, Denise Summers, called 999 and paramedics used a wheelchair to take her to the ambulance. After an X-ray and treatment at the local hospital which included putting a full splint on her leg, preventing her from bending it an ambulance took Mrs Summers home.

The crew used a trolley to get her out of the ambulance but when they reached the steps up to the front door they told her she would have to get off and go it alone.

Mrs Summers said: 'They said they could not put me in the chair because I could not bend my leg and it might hit them in the face so they put me down on the second step and I inched up on my bottom while they stood watching.They even said they were amazed I had done it. I was out of breath because I have a bad heart and my hands were full of pebbles.'

She is now so nervous of travelling by ambulance that when she has to attend hospital she calls a taxi with wheelchair access. 'I will only use an ambulance again if I am unconscious,' she said.

Last night John Darley, Yorkshire Ambulance Service operations director said: 'We are sorry that the patient and their family do not feel they received an appropriate level of care from Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

'We are taking the family's concerns very seriously and have been in contact with them directly. 'We are currently carrying out a full investigation and will keep the family fully informed of our findings. 'We would like to reassure patients across Yorkshire that their safety and welfare is our utmost priority.'
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I wonder what some, maybe most, councils would do if we treated people in a similar way?

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IDFIMH

Just tonight iv'e had a similar experience, picked up 2 elderly people on an account job going about 40 miles away. The gent had had a fall getting on the coach that brought them home, the coach got stuck in traffic and they missed the feeder coach taking them home so the coach company phoned for a cab to take them.
I got to the gents house an tried to get him out but his legs wouldnt hold him up , they kept giving way.
I got a passing bloke to give me a lift to get him in his flat, sat him in a chair, got him a cuppa and took the lady on to her destination (about 5 miles further on) i called back at his flat on the way back to make sure he was ok but he'd tried to go to the loo and collapsed again, so i helped him to the chair and phoned an ambulance for him.
Once the ambulance arrived i left, only to find he'd peed on my seat on the way home!!!
So now ive wasted 3 hours on a £70 (£40 for the job £30 for the wee) job and had to bin the rest of the night to clean and dry my seat for tomorrow!!
I'll try to get some extra off the coach company for the messing about , but wont hold my breath

If i'd known he was dodgy on his legs when i got him in i wouldnt have taken him, they should have phoned an ambulance when he had his fall instead of leaving it to muggins here to do it hours later

It's no different than when a pub calls to get rid of the mush who's collasped in the corner.

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IDFIMH

I used to have that problem with a certain local pub. The only time they phoned was to get rid of their drunks, other times they'd phone a rival company.

Strange how I always seem to be busy when I recognised the voice on the phone

I know you was stuck with this elderly gent, but you have put yourself at risk, your insurance finishes when they get out the cab, your job ends there.
by being a good samaritan in helping this chap without knowing how to lift or carry/move older people or had training

you have got to remember its not your fit mate your pulling/ lifting up, once these older people become old [we all get there in the end] their body is very fragile and easily bruise or can break their bones just by moving or lifting them wrongly, one wrong grip could be the end for him or turn into something else. then the claim will be on you

I would have not made the chap a cup of tea, not knowing whats wrong with him

I have done similar before, years ago, [never again, you could be liable], drag em into the house, put the fire on, turn the cooker on, draw the curtains, pull back the duvat on the bed, locked the door then put the key through the letter box, in the meantime the local scum are doing your cab over

I understand the implications, but it's a matter of where your responsibilities end, and doing what you feel is right. This wasnt a drunk, it was an old man who has some pride and dignity and needed someone to do for him as i would hope someone would do for my old man if he was in the same situation. I did the bare minimum to make him comfy and then phoned the proffesionals.
I couldnt leave him in the pizzing rain for 1/2 an hour while we waited for an ambulance, and the lady was still in my car so it was unlikely someone would try and rob it.
I wouldnt do the same for some drunken idiot belive me!

Had similiar in London driver helped passenger upstairs hurt his back,off work 2months, car loan not on credit protection,gets behind with mortgage,bailiffs at door wife going ape.All because he was a decent guy trying to help Companies take on work which expose drivers to unacceptable risks,many of these passengers should be in ESCORTED transport.Councils contract this work out on cost basis not CARE.Will ring a bell in Brighton.But how do you deny passengers assistance it could be your family??????????????????
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

For every positive action, there s a nega. . . . . . .

Or Licensed accessable London Taxi's.

GBC and youd leave the sherbert and help the frail passenger up the stairs with the shopping?
ENQUIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

and why not?

Working nights I don't tend to pick up many frail old lady's who have been out shopping, but assist wheelchairs, mums with luggage, people at the various stations etc.
But I'm an all round nice guy.

Its about being sensible with what you lift and working to your capability.

All this health and saftely crap started once your lot got in GMB.

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stressed controller!!!

Rambo ive no doubt you could be the driver in my above post,come on whats the answer,take a chance,refuse,or adequate escorting???? should your good will put your family at risk??weve all done it but as you get older and less agile the risks increase whats the answer,maybe insurance against accidental injury,but then who pays for IT?the driver the proprietor,the authority??????????Dont be flippant the above story is factual its a very real problem.
ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.

Me flipant?, where did I put that kettle, oh yeh, its next to the black pot.

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stressed controller!!!