Agenda item

HACKNEY CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS

Minutes:

The Director of Governance and Assurance reported upon a request received from a representative of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trade to review the requirement that Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers undertake a medical assessment with a General Practitioner in the medical practice to which the individual is registered.

 

The Licensing Manager reported that the request had been made by a representative of the trade due to the financial costs of having to have a medical assessment with a General Practitioner in the medical practice to which the individual was registered as well as the availability of appointments.

 

Members were advised that the current policy in respect of the medical requirement for Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Drivers had been adopted by this Committee on 25 March 2015.

 

The Licensing Manager reported that representations had been made for the Council to accept medical forms that were completed by individuals other than a General Practitioner in the medical practice to which an applicant for a Private Hire or Hackney Carriage Driver Licence or renewal was registered.  This included private companies who offered their services to HGV and taxi drivers at a reduced rate.  The representations related to the cost incurred in respect of the medical assessment undertaken by a General Practitioner in the medical practice to which the individual was registered and the time it took to get an appointment.  Details of requirements set by other local authorities in the City Region were outlined within the report.

 

It was further reported by officers that the medical assessment undertaken by a General Practitioner in the medical practice to which the individual was registered provided confidence that the full medical records of an individual had been available to the GP making the assessment.  There had been circumstances where matters relating to the fitness of an individual may not have been identified should an applicant have taken the medical assessment form to an individual outside the medical practice to which the applicant was registered.  It was therefore considered that the current policy was the most effective in determining whether an individual was a fit and proper person to hold a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver Licence.

 

Mr D Cummins, Unite the Union addressed the Committee and highlighted the difficulties with respect to the availability of General Practitioners within the medical practice to which the licence holder was registered.  He believed that should individuals be allowed to go to a GP outside of their own medical practice, this would provide the opportunity to compare costs and complete the medical within the required time period.

 

In response, the Licensing Manager advised that costs do vary slightly however the average was £102 across different medical practices.  Members  were advised that it was a matter for them to consider, but were also advised of the risk should the medical assessment be completed by persons other than a General Practitioner in the medical practice to which an individual is registered as full details of the medical condition of that individual may not be revealed.

 

Members discussed the proposals and risks and also the practicality of whether individuals would need to be registered with the practice at which they would undertake their medical assessment.  Members considered the safety of drivers and passengers and it was suggested that the Chair of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) be contacted to provide further information regarding the ability of GPs who are not located within the practice where individuals are registered to carry out medical assessments for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers.

 

On a motion by Councillor I Lewis and seconded by Councillor M Collins it was –

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the current policy be retained for 12 months.

 

(2)  That the Chair of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) be contacted to provide further information regarding the ability of GPs who are not located within the practice where individuals are registered to carry out medical assessments for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers.

 

 

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