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Disabled doctor left 'stranded' on London train | Disabled doctor left 'stranded' on London train |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A disabled doctor said she was left feeling "worthless" when she was stranded on a train in her wheelchair. | A disabled doctor said she was left feeling "worthless" when she was stranded on a train in her wheelchair. |
Dr Hannah Barham-Brown said passengers had to fetch a ramp to get her off the train at Euston station on Wednesday evening when no staff arrived to help. | Dr Hannah Barham-Brown said passengers had to fetch a ramp to get her off the train at Euston station on Wednesday evening when no staff arrived to help. |
She said she almost missed her train to Birmingham the same day, when staff at Euston did not meet her off the Tube. | |
Network Rail said it "clearly" needs to do more to improved disabled access. | |
Dr Barham-Brown, who works at St George's Hospital, Tooting, south London, had been travelling to a conference about doctors with disabilities. | Dr Barham-Brown, who works at St George's Hospital, Tooting, south London, had been travelling to a conference about doctors with disabilities. |
After getting the Tube from her home in Earlsfield to King's Cross, she had to wheel herself up the pavement to Euston because there was no step-free access from Euston underground station to the train platforms. | After getting the Tube from her home in Earlsfield to King's Cross, she had to wheel herself up the pavement to Euston because there was no step-free access from Euston underground station to the train platforms. |
'A lesser citizen' | 'A lesser citizen' |
She said she had to lean her head out of the door and "yell to get off the train" when she arrived at Birmingham International station. | She said she had to lean her head out of the door and "yell to get off the train" when she arrived at Birmingham International station. |
Hours later, she experienced a similar thing in Euston when two passers-by had to help her on to the platform. | Hours later, she experienced a similar thing in Euston when two passers-by had to help her on to the platform. |
The junior doctor, 30, said such incidents were "no surprise" but made her want to give up on public transport. | The junior doctor, 30, said such incidents were "no surprise" but made her want to give up on public transport. |
"They just make me feel kind of worthless in a way - like my day doesn't matter, my job doesn't matter," she said. | "They just make me feel kind of worthless in a way - like my day doesn't matter, my job doesn't matter," she said. |
"It makes you feel like a lesser citizen." | "It makes you feel like a lesser citizen." |
Dr Barham-Brown has a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which means her joints are prone to dislocating. | Dr Barham-Brown has a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which means her joints are prone to dislocating. |
Although she can get around on crutches, using a wheelchair means she is safer, in less pain, and can therefore continue to work full time. | Although she can get around on crutches, using a wheelchair means she is safer, in less pain, and can therefore continue to work full time. |
But problems using the chair across London mean she is often forced to leave it at home. | But problems using the chair across London mean she is often forced to leave it at home. |
"I travel with my crutches, even though that will mean I'm in quite a lot of pain," she said. | "I travel with my crutches, even though that will mean I'm in quite a lot of pain," she said. |
"If I have to get to a meeting, that's what I have to do." | "If I have to get to a meeting, that's what I have to do." |
A West Midlands Railway spokesman said: "This should not have happened. We are responsible for the customer and we are sorry." | |
The Rail Delivery Group - which represents Network Rail - said: "Train travel has become far more accessible in recent years but there is clearly still more to do." | |
It said it is making 110 more stations step-free over the next two years and making it easier for people to book assistance. | |
Mark Evers, London Underground's chief customer officer, said "there's more to do" to help disabled people use the Tube. | Mark Evers, London Underground's chief customer officer, said "there's more to do" to help disabled people use the Tube. |
He said the Underground was investing £200m to boost to step-free access. | He said the Underground was investing £200m to boost to step-free access. |
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