Taxis answer 999 calls in South West
A Freedom of Infomation (FOI) request has revealed that the South Western Ambulance Trust (SWASFT) has sent taxis to 158 999 calls in 2013/14.
The evidence was presented to the House of Commons yesterday by Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham who claimed that the news revealed a deepening crisis in UK A&E’s.
Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said: "People who have faced an anxious wait for an ambulance will be stunned by Jeremy Hunt’s complacency. Despite mounting evidence of the pressure on emergency services, his only response is ‘crisis, what crisis?’
"His failure to face up to the A&E crisis is having a serious knock-on effect on ambulance services. On his watch, more and more 999 calls are being attended by police cars and taxis. What clearer sign could there be of an NHS not safe in Tory hands?”
Responding in Commons, Health Minister Jermey Hunt criticised Burnham for exaggerating the issue.
Mr Hunt said: “We are hitting our A&E target, and we are hitting our ambulance standard. You are trying to talk up a crisis that is not happening.”
Also speaking in commons, Liberal Democrat Deputy Health Minister Norman Lamb said: “Labour is always desperately in search of a crisis, even if there is none to be found.”
The FOI request also reveled that SWASFT has spent more than £95,000 this year, on private taxi hire for patients.
Although there was an existing service to take non-emergency patients to and from medical appointments by taxi the cost has risen significantly. In 2009 the same service cost only £17,000.
SWASFT has come under heavy criticism on the cost of the project as well as the practice of hiring private taxis.
UNISON national officer, Hope Daley, said: "It is totally unacceptable that ambulance trusts are using taxis and the police to pick up patients while they are cutting the number of fully trained staff and ambulances on our roads.
"When someone is so ill they need medical intervention, the least they expect is to be attended by medically trained professionals. Patients may miss out on vital life saving treatment on their way to hospital.
"Using taxis could end up costing lives to save money which should be put to better use retaining trained ambulance staff to deliver a crucial service that members of the public not only rely on but deserv
