Hope for Diabetic Drivers
Something happened in late 2000 that bought much satisfaction to DaC
driver Gerry Murray (V81) and also to Call Sign Magazine. Gerry's life
totally turned around from the depths he seemed to be looking at, to once
more aiming skywards and in doing so has given hope to other licensed taxi
drivers in a similar situation.
To start at the beginning, in mid September Gerry and his
brother-in-law were having a late break in Majorca. When they came back,
Gerry's wife Judith commented on the fact that Gerry seemed to have lost
weight and asked whether the food had been ok. Gerry couldn't understand
because he had been eating normally.
In addition, before they had left London, Gerry had seen his
doctor following an attack of thrush - something that can be attributed to
a sexually transmittable disease, however in Gerry's case, that definitely
wasn't the reason because thrush is also fairly common in diabetics and
Gerry was to soon find out that he had developed 'type 1' diabetes.
A week or so later, Gerry was working in his taxi when he
felt an incredible thirst come over him. "I remember it well,"
Gerry told Call Sign, "I just couldn't believe it. I actually spent
£8 in one evening on drinks - everything from two litre bottles of water
to similarly sized bottles of coke. I was also starting to eat lots of ice
cream and that was strange because I don't even like it!" He then
went to have some tests done.
On a Tuesday in early October, a nurse phoned Gerry's home
and Judith answered; Gerry was working. It was urgent that the nurse
contacted Gerry as his results had come through and his glucose level was
dangerously high. Gerry returned home and went straight to the consultant
who told him that he would try him for a very short period on tablets as,
if the diabetes could be controlled that way, then he would be classified
as 'type 2'. If he had 'type 1' which has to be controlled by Insulin,
then he would probably have his licence revoked by the PCO. After just a
few days, it became obvious that Gerry's diabetic condition needed insulin
injections to keep it in check and Gerry Murray's cab
driving career appeared to be at an end.
He phoned me at Call Sign the next day in a rather distressed
state and told me the story just as I've related it to you. He remembered
the series of stories we ran last year and how several drivers had
regained their licenses and wanted to know whether e had a chance.
Unfortunately, the answer was that he could do nothing about
it at that time other than to hand his Bill and badge in to the PCO. I
gave him the phone number of one of the guys who'd had his licence
returned last year and I also told him that I was about to run the amazing
story of how Tony Sam-Yorke (W95) appeared to have been cured by a Chinese
herbalist doctor (see December issue). I also told him that I hoped to
have a definitive response re taxi drivers with 'Type 1' diabetes from Mr
Kennedy at the PCO (see January issue). He has responsibility for issuing
licenses and I told Gerry that we might at least know from the article
whether he had any chance of getting it back.
Meanwhile Gerry went onto insulin and other than a first
occasion when a nurse showed him how to inject himself, he has had no
problems at all - other than suddenly finding himself without any income.
Within one week of Sandy Kennedy writing the article, Gerry
had a phone call from the PCO: He could come and pick his licence up! He
phoned me to give me the news and I have to say that it was hard to stop
my eyes filling up! I don't know whether the article helped or not, but
what I do know is that diabetics with 'type 1' diabetes are now being
given a fair crack of the whip by the PCO. Ok, so Gerry needs a yearly
medical, but even he accepts that as being fair and who would argue
against it.
'Type 1'Diabetics will need to be able to prove by a
consultant's examination and then a PCO say so that they are medically
sound
to drive a cab. But whatever the whys and wherefores, it was a great way to end the old year...
Cabcharge Takeovers?
I see that Reg Kermode, the Australian Chairman and founder of
Cabcharge has published a financial statement which claims that his company
expects more than 50 per cent of its revenue to come from overseas within
five years - 'overseas' being as in outside Australia. He told shareholders
that the UK was "a priority market."
As you no doubt know, Cabcharge (Australia), along with its
Singaporean partner Del Gro, owns an 80 per cent interest in ComCab in
addition to DataCab. Mr Kermode said that the UK plan was to separate
Cabcharge's financial service side and its call centre operation.
Then in a rather surprising and intriguing quote, he said that
the move would allow the group to move into bigger radio circuits in London
and then on to the rest of the UK and Europe.
That last sentence seems to suggest that Cabcharge are looking
to possibly takeover either Mountview or us - or at least our charge card
services! On behalf of DaC drivers, I asked Brian Rice whether it was likely
to be us? He gave me a two-word answer, the second of which was
"off!"
Reg Kermode is someone that I have a great deal of respect for.
He is also on the Call Sign mailing list and will be reading this in several
days time. I invite him to write an article for Call Sign readers explaining
exactly what he means and how he thinks it would benefit our Society.
London Taxi Board
At the time of writing (January 22nd), I have no way of knowing
whether the T&G's withdrawal from the LTB is permanent of if it indeed
means that the demise of the LTB is now imminent. If it does end, I shall
look forward to seeing how long the trade "unity" that we
constantly hear about, actually lasts. My heart hopes that it does - my head
tells me otherwise. After all, it was only their antagonism towards the LTB
that they seemed to have in common anyway...
