Bolton taxi drivers call for medicals from private doctors

Under the current system taxi drivers in the borough must go through medicals with their registered doctors, who they have been with for 12 months or more, to stay on the roads.

But drivers have said this has forced them to endure long waits and in some cases pay charges of up to £170 rather than go to more convenient and cheaper alternatives.

Bolton Private Hire Association secretary Yasif Khan said: “All taxi drivers have to go through a medical and getting an appointment with a doctor these days is like trying to get an appointment with King Charles, it's easier to do that!

“And they are charging an arm and a leg for it.”

Taxi drivers have previously protested against the CAZ and MLS scheme (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “Bolton licencing doesn’t let drivers go to a private doctor.

“Instead they have to go to a registered doctor who they’ve been with for up to 12 months and since after Covid its absolute murder to get in to see a doctor.”

Mr Khan said that drivers have been holding a long running series of talks with Bolton Council to try and convince the authority to let them go to private doctors.

He argued that this can help drivers get their medicals dealt with much more quickly for as little as £50.

Mr Khan said: “So we have been asking Bolton Council, we have been asking for quite a bit now, both the previous Conservative administration and now the Labour one as well that we need this sorting where we can go to an independent doctor.”

He added: “We need this sorting because why should we be paying £170 when we could be paying £50?”

The debate over doctors’ notes comes after several high profile disputes between the taxi trade and Bolton Council.

Throughout 2022 the trades’ representatives had staunchly opposed the plans for a charging Clean Air Zone across Greater Manchester.

More contentious still was the Minimum Licencing Standards policy.

This would have demanded vehicles would have to be less than five years old on first registration and have been on the road for less than 10 years to avoid a charge.

But the policy was abandoned in its entirely in July 2023 after widespread opposition from the taxi trade.

Now Bolton Council’s leadership says they hope to work with taxi drivers and their representatives to come to a common agreement.

Executive cabinet member for licencing Cllr Sue Haworth said: “This council year taxi drivers are asking Bolton Council licensing authority to change its policy on medical statements and taxi driver licensing.

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“Bolton taxi trade representatives are aware that in some other council licensing authorities a wider range of medical professionals can provide statements about a drivers medical fitness and this choice means drivers can pay less for these medical practitioner services.”

She added: “A policy options paper is being put together.

“Some staff absence has impacted licensing policy work this year and reducing the impact of absence is being addressed going forward.

“Working with taxi drivers’ representatives is very valued at the council as they bring the regular experiences of many of the over 1,500 Bolton licenced drivers to our attention and it is important that we meet them regularly.”