By KATH GANNAWAY
A LAUNCHING PLACE pensioner who missed a hospital appointment because his taxi didn’t turn up wants improvements to the system … and an explanation.
George Brophy booked the taxi for 6am on Saturday 14 June, to go to Box Hill Hospital for an appointment he had waited for four months.
Mr Brophy, who has had two kidney transplant operations and a heart by-pass, said the taxi was booked through Yarra Valley Taxis three days before, and that his wife Elizabeth had been assured by the taxi company when she rang on the Friday afternoon that it was all good to go.
When the taxi hadn’t arrived by 6.40am, he rang and got a computer-generated response asking whether he still wanted the taxi.
Mr Brophy said he finally got through to an operator, who put him through to another person, who was unable to give him any information.
“We had allowed plenty of time, but in the end, I had to cancel the appointment because there was no way I would have made it in time,” Mr Brophy said.
Mr Brophy said they were unable to get any explanation from the company as to why he was left stranded with a round-trip fare of around $200 on offer.
“They complain that they don’t want short fares and say they can’t get people in the Yarra Valley to pre-book their taxis, but when something like this happens, you lose confidence in the service,” he said.
Mr Brophy said he now had to wait another six weeks for a new appointment.
The Mail’s inquiry to Yarra Valley Taxis was referred on to 13 CABS, but we have been unable to get any information.
