Keith Dungait, 47 from Morpeth north of Newcastle, has regained his ability to drive following a life changing neck injury, thanks to the clinical support of North East Drive Mobility (NEDM, a Driving Mobility centre).
Keith is married with two boys aged 11 and 13. He runs his own health and nutrition business from home and is a full-time powered wheelchair user. A fan of sport and ex rugby player, Keith experienced a traumatic injury several years ago when he accidently dived head first into a shallow swimming pool on holiday in Majorca. This resulted in immediate CPR, intensive care for two weeks and over five months in hospital. Today he has rebuilt his life and remains positive despite lasting anxiety from the accident. In terms of mobility in a car, he has been a passenger in the family’s wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) up until receiving an assessment and tuition from the Driving Mobility staff at NEDM. Keith is now ready to start driving again.
Supported in England by the Department for Transport, Driving Mobility co-ordinates a network of 24 fitness-to-drive and mobility equipment assessment centres across the UK. With over 80 outreach facilities, this clinically led service is provided by Occupational Therapists and Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) who focus on enabling as many people as possible. NEDM is Keith’s nearest centre which has supported him over a few years to now be able to drive again. He self-referred after Driving Mobility services were recommended to him when being treated at the James Cook Hospital, Newcastle. The Covid pandemic delayed the process but nevertheless Keith has managed to complete several assessments and driving lessons to ensure he has the skills to drive with hand controls.
Before setting up his business 24 years ago, Keith worked on his family farm. Driving large tractors with hand throttles became second nature so using different controls to accelerate and brake, without using his legs, felt quite familiar at NEDM. Keith picks up his story: “North East Drive Mobility were massively supportive, they couldn’t have helped me anymore. They understood my concerns and step-by-step they kept me relaxed throughout the whole process. My assessments lasted for around an hour and half each time, I was given the opportunity to safely drive a suitable vehicle around their private track so my needs could be assessed.”
Keith continues: “They made me feel confident and as I drove tractors many years ago, I was comfortable with using a hand throttle. I’ve found handling the vehicle easy especially as towing 12 ton of corn was previously normal for me. However, they appreciated I still got anxious around hospitals, as being in one for so long after my accident, so they let me take my time and step outside regularly for fresh air. Being able to get in and out of the driving seat from my powerchair was a new experience so again, I never felt rushed.”
Following his assessments, Keith was deemed safe to drive with hand-controlled push-pull accelerator/brake, steering ball, powerchair locking system and a six-way electrically adjustable driving seat. This type of seat can be rotated and repositioned for easy transfers in and out of a powerchair. Driving Mobility’s report was sent to the DVLA with the recommendation that his driving licence was returned. Specialist driving lessons were also recommended to ensure he remained comfortable with driving in this new way, whilst he waited for a suitable vehicle to be adapted.
“When I started my driving lessons, NEDM arranged to bring the accessible van to me at home instead of me having to drive to Newcastle. This was so much easier as I was in familiar places when practicing. They kept underlining they wanted to help me get back on the road at my own pace. They were so understanding.”
Today, Keith has his licence back and is now ready to drive again. He is in the process of applying to Motability for a grant so he can get one of their vehicles adapted with the controls he needs. He should be independent soon, able to drive himself and his family wherever instead of being a passenger in the back of their WAV. Plus, he can once again grow his business. To conclude Keith says: “From the outset NEDM were so focused on getting me back on the road. And fitting around me and making me feel comfortable. Suzie and Emma at the centre were so helpful and accommodating. They bent over backwards to help me – fantastic people. I couldn’t recommend them enough.”
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