THE HSE SPENT almost €200 million on taxis and private ambulance services over a five-year period – with almost €2 million being spent on taxis for HSE staff in just two years.
Some €190.3 million was spent on taxis and private ambulance services between 2005 and 2010, with €164.36 million going on patient taxis and €24.1 million going on private ambulances, reports Medical Independent. The HSE could not provide the cost of staff taxis between the years 2005 to 2007; however between 2008 and 2010 €1.86 million was spent on taxis for HSE staff.
The HSE said that “staff taxi” cases can include incidents when staff accompanied a patient or a client to an appointment. The HSE defended its use of taxis by saying: “The use of taxis for patient transport represents a more cost-effective solution when compared to investment in a fleet of HSE-owned vehicles for this purpose. Additional costs relating to this would include the provision of 24/7 staffing, maintenance, fuel, insurance and tax.”
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