Double amputee left abandoned by Brighton taxi firm because he did not know postcodeDouble amputee left abandoned by Brighton taxi firm because he did not know postcodeDouble amputee left abandoned by Brighton taxi firm because he did not know postcode
A double amputee was left stranded in the cold by a taxi company – because he could not provide a post code.
George Childs, 88, and his step daughter, Maureen Johnson, 67, were marooned when Mr Child’s electric wheelchair broke down on the way home from Brighton Marina.
Miss Johnson, of Bristol Estate, Brighton, said: “We always use Streamline Taxis as they are the biggest Brighton and Hove taxi company with disabled wheelchair access vehicles.
“But the call operator just wasn’t helpful at all.
“She wanted a postal address and a postal code but being out in the open on the seafront I couldn’t give her one.”
Miss Johnson walked to The New Bush pub on Arundel Road alone, only to be told by the operator that it was a banned pick up point.
She said: “By this time I was getting really frustrated as I was so worried about my dad on the other side of the road.
“I just burst into tears.”
Chilly
Miss Johnson was forced to phone a friend in Lancing to pick them up.
Mr Childs, whose legs were amputated above the knee in 2005 as a result of diabetes, said: “I was frustrated because I was very cold.
“It was very chilly waiting.”
Miss Johnson said she has since received a letter from Streamline Taxis apologising and saying they are looking into the incident on April 29.
A spokesman from Streamline Taxis said yesterday: “We are most conscious of our duty to ensure accessibility and safe transport for all sectors of the community.
“Where we are made aware of a particular need we do our best to determine the most suitable vehicle for the passenger.
“In the instance nowraised we were dealing with a wheelchairbound passenger.
“However, a complaint has been raised with us and notified separately to the passenger’s MP.
“We are in correspondence with both parties and it would be inappropriate for us to comment in a public forum until the matter is resolved with the people involved.
“Notwithstanding, we can confirm that the passenger has booked our vehicles on numerous occasions since the event now in question.
“Our operators are aware of the need to clarify all details to ensure that the most suitable vehicle is allocated for the booking.”
source:
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10464894 ... _postcode/
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