Hospitals dish out £580,000 for taxis in JUST one year
Hospital trusts across the Black Country and Staffordshire spent more than £580,000 providing taxis to transport patients, new figures show.
One trust spent almost £300,000 taking people in taxis to and from hospitals. Taxis can be used by the NHS when someone is too old, frail or ill to make the journey themselves.
They might also be used when there is significant pressure on the ambulance service. The figures come from the Health and Social Care Information Centre and cover the 2014/2015 financial year.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust had the highest cost in the area, spending £289,960 on private taxis. Bosses said these were used to ensure patient safety when no other method of transport was available.
Gwen Nuttall, chief operations officer at the trust, said: "We use a mix of transport provided by NSL and private providers to ensure patients can be discharged quickly and safely to their homes, when there is no alternative method of transport."
South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust spent £40,000 on taxis. They said that due to their large, rural catchment area, this was often the most effective option for them.
Amanda Godfrey, for the trust, said: "We have considered options for providing ad hoc patient transport and also carriage of important item such as blood samples and have found local taxis to be the most effective option for our large, rural catchment."
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs County Hospital in Stafford, spent £9,717 on taxis.
Liz Rix, trust chief nurse, said: "The amount we spend on private taxis is considerably less than other hospitals in the country and demonstrates the good relationship we have with our local ambulance provider."
The Dudley Group NHS Foundation spent £37,118 on private vehicles for patients. Paula Clark, chief executive, said: "Taxis are paid for by the trust in specific circumstances and only where it is safe and appropriate to do so."
Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership spent £5,467 across the 2014/2015 financial year and Walsall Healthcare Trust £64,194. Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust spent £65,436, and Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust £68,597.
