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Health department's £2m taxi bill Health department's £2m taxi bill
(about 15 hours later)
The Department of Health spent more than £2m on taxi fares in the first six months of this financial year, it has been revealed.The Department of Health spent more than £2m on taxi fares in the first six months of this financial year, it has been revealed.
The information was released to DUP assembly member Alex Easton after he made a Freedom of Information request. The information was released to DUP MLA Alex Easton who described the figure as "totally outrageous".
It showed that the cumulative total for taxi fares for the five health trusts in Northern Ireland from 1 April to 30 September 2009 came to £2.2m. The cumulative total for taxi fares for the five NI health trusts from 1 April to 30 September 2009 came to £2.2m.
Mr Easton said the figure was "totally outrageous". The health minister said taxis were used to transport vulnerable patients and children to vital appointments.
"I have been trying to gain access to this information for some time and have found it difficult to get answers. "Having been forced to use the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, I am not surprised to see why the department was so reluctant to answer questions. Mr Easton said he eventually received the figures through a Freedom of Information request.
"I have been trying to gain access to this information for some time and have found it difficult to get answers.
"Having been forced to use the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, I am not surprised to see why the department was so reluctant to answer questions.
Trust taxi spend Northern Trust, £462,897Belfast Trust, £482,000Western Trust, £358,084Southern Trust, £466,273South Eastern Trust, £464,000Trust taxi spend Northern Trust, £462,897Belfast Trust, £482,000Western Trust, £358,084Southern Trust, £466,273South Eastern Trust, £464,000
"£2.2m on taxis, whilst nurses fear for their jobs: that is the Department of Health under the stewardship of this minister."£2.2m on taxis, whilst nurses fear for their jobs: that is the Department of Health under the stewardship of this minister.
"That equates to more than £4m per annum, what possible justification can there be for such use of taxpayers' money?" "That equates to more than £4m per annum, what possible justification can there be for such use of taxpayers' money?", Mr Easton asked.
In a statement, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said Mr Easton was "playing politics" with the health service. 'Scurrilous scaremongering'
"The figures cited by Mr Easton pale in comparison to the level of deficits and efficiencies which Trusts are facing," he said. In a statement, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey accused Mr Easton of "playing politics" with the health service.
"The figures cited by Mr Easton pale in comparison to the level of deficits and efficiencies which trusts are facing," he said.
"Let me be clear, no nursing jobs have been threatened - any such suggestion is scurrilous scaremongering."Let me be clear, no nursing jobs have been threatened - any such suggestion is scurrilous scaremongering.
"Mr Easton is seeking to make cheap political capital by speculating about tiny proportions of my £4bn budget, less than 1%. "Mr Easton knows full well taxis may be used by health and social care trusts for various purposes, for example, the transportation of blood, medical records, equipment, staff or patients - all essential to the delivery of frontline services.
"Transport and travel for staff and patients is subject to value for money and efficiency constraints as much as any other element of trust expenditure." "Even if we cut out every single taxi journey, which ensures the safety of vulnerable patients and children to school and vital appointments, we would only save just 1% of the total £344m efficiency target imposed on my department and voted through by Alex Easton," Mr McGimpsey said.