Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 19: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if an evaluation of the use of taxis by the Health Service Executive has been undertaken; if she has taken a role in addressing this issue in order to ensure value for money; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41888/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The HSE uses taxis where it deems this appropriate to help clients, sometimes with accompanying staff, to access health and personal social services. This enables HSE ambulance vehicles and their staff to be used for emergency or other front-line duties. It is also more cost effective than purchasing and operating a fleet of HSE owned vehicles.

My Department has asked the HSE to develop a new set of rules in relation to non-emergency patient transport, in order to ensure a consistent national approach to this issue. In addition the HSE has developed a strategy for the procurement of taxi services which is already being used in the former Eastern Region, with significant financial and quality benefits. The Executive reports that it achieved a reduction of 7% last year in overall patient transport costs in 2009 and that further cost reductions are being achieved this year.

Quality of service and patient safety are very important considerations affecting the HSE's use of contracted transport services, such as taxi services.