GREATER Glasgow's health board paid almost £2million to use taxis last year.

The figure was more than £264,000 up on the previous year.

Figures revealed to the Evening Times show NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spent £1,927,996 on contract cabs in the year to April 2008.

In 2006/07 the total was £1,663,533.

The health board said taxis were a "cost-effective alternative to couriers" and were also used for non-urgent patient transport and ferrying staff.

But the board was un-able to say exactly how much was spent transporting NHS managers by taxi because, it said, our questions on a breakdown of what taxis were used for "did not relate to information held by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde".

A Glasgow MSP and the health union Unison today questioned the amount spent on taxis.

Tory MSP Bill Aitken said: "I find it very surprising an expenditure of this size cannot be broken down, at least in indicative terms.

"This is a substantial amount of money and could represent a significant haemorrhaging of resources that could be used for patient care.

"The expenditure could be justified, but we do not know because the board won't tell us."

Matt McLaughlin, of Unison, said: "It's ironic this has been revealed at a time when the board is telling staff not to bring cars to work.

"My understanding is that a lot of the time taxis are used to ferry files, in some cases an individual file, across the city.

"You have to ask how eco-friendly that is, given it is a relatively standard procedure. There must be a cheaper, more sustainable alternative than relying on taxis.

"The fact the board has been unable to provide a breakdown of spending raises the question about its overall ability to account for the money it spends.

"When the board has an overall budget of £2.3billion, £2m is a drop in the ocean. But at a time when the board is scraping around to try to make every saving it can, many people would see £2m as a lot to spend on taxis."

A health board spokesman said: "We regard the contractual use of taxi companies as a cost-effective alternative to courier companies.

"They are also seen to be more cost-effective than the NHS running a large fleet of in-house vans or courier cars, although a limited number of vehicles are available for routine, bulk deliveries.

"Taxis can also often be used when patients need to be transported for non-urgent care from home or between NHS sites when alternatives offered by public transport, the national Patient Transport Service or volunteer drivers are unsuitable or unavailable.

"In particular, we would use taxis when patients are vulnerable or have mobility issues."

Tuesday 3rd February 2009

Exclusive By Ewan Fergus

Reproduced with the permission of The Evening Times, Glasgow © 2008 Herald & Times Group