Success for campaigners as hospital drops Taxicard ban

Cathy Reay

Campaigners are celebrating after a hospital trust lifted a travel ban imposed  on users of subsidised travel tokens.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust in London had barred anyone who uses the Taxicard system or has their own car – even if they cannot drive it – from using the trust’s patient transport service (Disability Now Online, 25 June).

Campaigners said this was discriminatory and the Taxicard service was supposed to be used for people with mobility impairments to use on social trips.

Following a demonstration by disabled and older people on the trust’s open day in June, the trust agreed to meet with Transport for All (TfA), which had organised the protest.

Last week, the trust announced it had changed its Taxicard policy and reversed its position.

Joseph Healy, co-director of TfA, said: “I am delighted that the management of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, after listening to our representations on behalf of many disabled Taxicard holders, have seen sense and reversed their previous policy.

“Many disabled patients who wish to use the trust’s patient transport service will be very relieved about this decision and will now be able to use their Taxicards for the purpose for which they were provided.”

A Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust spokeswoman said: “Guy’s and St Thomas’ can confirm that assessments for non-emergency patient transport no longer include holding a Taxicard as part of the assessment criteria.

“This decision was made because of information received from Transport for All and London Councils [the body that runs the scheme] that Taxicards are for social use.”

Pic caption: Mary Roxburgh protesting about the Taxicard ban at the demonstration in June