NHS Lothian spends £400,000 a year on taxis

HEALTH chiefs have spent nearly £400,000 on taxis for staff and patients in the past two years.

The cost of transport, which rose slightly last year, places another significant burden on NHS Lothian's under-pressure balance sheet.

Bosses within the organisation are known to be keen to cut the cost for next year.

The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, also showed NHS Lothian has a taxi contract arrangement with city company Com Cabs.

The firm was appointed following a tendering exercise to get the best deal.

Sources at the health board said the use of taxis was essential for helping move frail patients around and while a fleet of cars was of use, parking limitations and traffic made cabs a more viable option.