Driver speaks out on Swansea taxi firm incontinence rowTuesday, June 12, 2012A Swansea taxi driver has stepped into the debate about a woman with incontinence blacklisted by a city firm.
Roy Wilkinson claimed the city woman, Susan Abraham, had twice had accidents in his car and that he was no longer prepared to take her.
Mr Wilkinson, of Gendros, contacted the Post after an article last week in which Mrs Abraham's dismayed daughter, Barbara Jones, said she and her mum had been left stranded in the city centre by Data Cabs after being blacklisted by the firm.
Miss Jones disputed the company's account that her mum had accidentally soiled one of its taxis on the way into the city, and felt they had been discriminated against.
Mr Wilkinson said Data Cabs drivers regularly took people with disability issues, referring in part to Mrs Abraham's use of, but not confinement to, a wheelchair.
"We do it with pride," he said.
"Ninety-five per cent of our vehicles are wheelchair accessible. We are a proud company."
He said he was one of many drivers who had taken Mrs Abraham on journeys when she lived in Fforestfach as well as her current home in Portmead Avenue, Blaenymaes.
Mr Wilkinson, who has worked as a Data Cabs driver for six years, claimed: "She (Mrs Abraham) has urinated in my taxi twice.
"I checked the back of the car. I didn't say anything, but I had to disinfect it as well as I could, and spray it with air fresheners.
"I have been offered the job (of taking her in his taxi) and I have refused over the last few months."
Data Cabs boss Terry Davies said last week that it was an awkward situation but confirmed Mrs Abraham had been blacklisted.
The Post put Mr Wilkinson's claims to Miss Jones, who looks after her mum.
She said: "I understand that, but he could have brought it to my attention.
"I didn't know they felt like that."
Miss Jones said her 58-year-old mum had carers in twice a day.
The 28-year-old, a mum herself, reported the blacklisting to Swansea Council's licensing department, which said it was looking into the matter.
The NHS said incontinence — the unintentional passing of urine — was a very common problem.
Source; http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Drive ... story.html