Blackburn carer refused free bus journey
8:58am Tuesday 30th October 2012 in News
By Dan Clough, Reporter
Charlotte and Nathan
A DISABLED man was left in Blackburn town centre after a driver refused to let his carer on his bus – despite her carrying a British Red Cross carers’ card.
Nathan Montague, 19, has problems with his hearing, asthma, has been tested for autism and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and takes anti-depressants.
His girlfriend, 16-year-old Charlotte Hamer, looks after his medicine and has to be with him at all times in case he has a problem.
Mr Montague, who lives with Charlotte and her parents in Rothesay Road, Blackburn, carries a NoWcard, which gives him free travel on Transdev buses.
But when the pair tried to get on the number seven bus in Blackburn Boulevard to get home, Charlotte, who carries the Red Cross Carers Emergency Card, was denied access by the driver – despite having used the card for free travel on several occasions.
The pair had no money with them and were left to walk home in the cold.
Charlotte, a student at St Mary’s College, Blackburn, said she was responsible for Nathan: “Nathan is on anti-depressants which are hugely addictive, so I have to be there to watch him take them. I keep his tablets for him. I have responsibility for him.”
Mr Montague said if he was left on his own he could have real problems.
He said: “I didn’t know how I was going to get home. I said to the driver, ‘if you don’t let me on this bus I could collapse’.
“I need to have Charlotte with me as I have had blackouts in the past.”
A spokesman for Transdev said: “Free travel is provided by the local authority, not the bus company.
“Our policy is that free travel is available for the disabled person but not the carer.”
Comments(10)
Carlost
says...
10:12am Tue 30 Oct 12
scottlad
says...
10:13am Tue 30 Oct 12
juanbbien
says...
11:12am Tue 30 Oct 12
Juan Hunose
says...
11:19am Tue 30 Oct 12
useyourhead wrote:I think you will find that the policy is the local authority's, not the bus company's. The local authority runs the concessionary travel scheme, not the bus company. Why not ask them why a carer cannot have a free pass.
What a ridiculous policy!
All those responsibilities and not enough for a bus fare?
hunter3062
says...
1:02pm Tue 30 Oct 12
hunter3062
says...
1:06pm Tue 30 Oct 12
It is a credit card sized and you should carry it with you at all times. The British Red
Cross & Chester Care will hold your details which will be used as an instant source of
identification in case of an accident or serious illness using your unique card number
(located at the top right of your card). Help can then be co-ordinated to assist you
both while you are receiving attention. One phone call will ensure the person you
look after is safe.
How does the service operate?
You register with the service by completing an enrolment form. This form holds
information about you, the person you look after and the action that is needs to be
taken in case of an emergency. The British Red Cross and Chester Care hold this
information and it is treated in the strictest confidence.
Major Tom
says...
2:25pm Tue 30 Oct 12
ghanto
says...
3:20pm Tue 30 Oct 12
Fire Fly
says...
9:32am Wed 31 Oct 12
Charlotte's been receiving free travel by flashing a card that doesn't entitle her to it & because the previous drivers didn't realise it...until now so well done to the driver concerned!
She also isn't a carer to the extent being claimed, she's 16 years old, has just started college & is still a child in the eyes of the law. If Nathan needs someone with him all the time...she can't do that whilst at college.
Basically, if he was that disabled he'd have a full time carer funded via social services but he doesn't even have a part time one so what does that tell you.
useyourhead says...
9:30am Tue 30 Oct 12