Alexander (Sandy) Milne

A Beacon reader who has been following the correspondence regarding the cost of medical check-ups for elderly drivers sent me the following information a few days ago.

“Hi Sandy, Here is my survey for the cost of over-80s driver licence examinations.

For all of these you essentially need to be a registered patient.

Thrive Medical $135 (you have to be thriving financially, LOL); Phoenix Medical Centre $120; Ōhope Medical Centre $110 (casual patient consultation $105, registered $50); Total Health $100; Rehua Medical $35; Kawerau Medical Centre $36.

My own earlier Beacon comments deserve repeating.

I have already written to New Zealand Government ministers asking them to change the rules to be more considerate of older drivers.

Does anyone have evidence that New Zealand-driving oldies are less able than those in Victoria, where medical checks are not required?

Oldies need to drive as there is no suitable public transport in Whakatāne.

We do not need doctors to check fitness to drive.

Doctors should focus on patient care, and on shortening our waiting times for consultations.

The driving assessors who test us in the first place can judge fitness to drive. This isn’t rocket science.

I have checked that retired local police officers would be able to organise the checks more efficiently for a fraction of the cost.

The charges by four of the above providers are inconsiderate.

I invite local Grey Power president Dr Victor Luca to take the lead once again, and our district councillors to support him.

Couldn’t our district councillors lead the way by organising a novel low-cost government-approved Whakatāne District Council driver vetting model?

Surely we as a community should all care for older drivers who are already having it tough?