Taxi Driver Medicals in Calderdale
Date published: 01/10/2015
Guidance From MDU regarding Taxi Driver Medicals and Fitness to DriveTaxi Driver Medicals
A member reported that Calderdale Local Authority was enforcing that taxi drivers must have a certificate of fitness to drive a taxi and that a medical should be completed by their own GP. It was noted that the medical form was a standard LA form copied from the HGV relicensing medical form and did not relate specifically to driving a taxi. GPs were not under contractual obligation to perform these medicals and if they refused the patient’s livelihood was in jeopardy. It was agreed to write to Paul Butcher to seek further clarification. The LMC advice would be sent out to all GPs.
28/10/15
It was agreed that this was a matter of safety for GPs and the LMC recommended that it may be professionally unsafe to undertake and GPs could refuse to do them. It was agreed to circulate MDU guidance which would support this view..
20/01/2016
It was noted that patients no longer had to go to their registered GP for the medical. The GP was able to decline to complete the medical but would have to write a letter to confirm this. This added extra workload and delay for the patient. The patient had to take the form to the local authority (LA), who submit it through one of their panels.
The LMC will write to the LA advising that GPs were not indemnified to give an opinion as to Fitness to Drive as this is the role of the DVLA.
Guidance From MDU regarding Taxi Driver Medicals
calderdale taxi driver medical form