Health board spent £2.9m on taxi fares

Published on 23/07/2012 12:00

NHS Lothian has spent £2.9 million on taxi fares in the last three years, it has been reported.

The figures showed that the local health board had the country’s second biggest taxi bill in that period, with NHS Greater Glasgow spending £5 million on taxis.

The majority of the money spent by the local NHS was used to pay for patients’ fares, with £527,000 going on taxis for staff.

In total, NHS boards across Scotland spent £14 million on fares.

Robert Oxley, of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: “Health chiefs need to cut down on cab rides that represent poor value for money.”

And MSP Gavin Brown, the Scottish Conservative finance spokesman, added: “Every health board has to make sure that they are 100 per cent sure each taxi is needed.”