HEALTH chiefs have defended their decision to spend almost £10m on more than 500,000 taxi journeys for patients.
It has emerged that the North West Ambulance Service has spent the most on taxis nationally – £9.9m since April 2008. But bosses at the trust said it was in the process of reducing its reliance on them.
The information was released by trusts across the country after a Freedom of Information request.
Nationally more than £30m has been spent on taxis for NHS patients since 2008 because of a shortage of official non-emergency transport.
The figures cover the transfer of patients who are too ill to travel by themselves, such as those with broken limbs or receiving chemotherapy.
Ambulance trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland responded to the request for information.
Delwyn Wray, director of patient transport service at NWAS, said: “To enable the trust to deliver a timely and responsive service, particularly in surges of demand, there are times when it is necessary to use third party transport providers to supplement the fleet.
“This year the patient transport service is undergoing a modernisation programme in conjunction with new national eligibility criteria, set by commissioners, which ensures that only those with a genuine medical need can access the service.”
Taxis were used for less than 6 per cent of patient transport journeys in the first part of this year, compared with almost 10 per cent in 2010.
Ryelands Road, Lancaster.
RTC involving 2 cars. 1 male person released by fire service personnel and conveyed to hospital by ambulance.
Holmatro equipment, soft protection and glass management kit in use.
Contact: Lancaster Fire Station
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