Hospital expenditure on taxis has increased by more than 50 per cent over a five-year period, according to figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE).
According to the data, released in response to a parliamentary question, just over €61 million was spent on private patient transfers last year, which would primarily consist of taxis.
This is up from €39.5 million in 2021.
Expenditure varied between hospitals, with Beaumont Hospital having the highest spend last year at €5,226,094, followed by Waterford General Hospital at €4,949,588 and University Hospital Limerick at €4,787,324.
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Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital has spent nothing on taxis for the past three years, the figures show.
Other hospitals that had low expenditure include Kilcreene Orthopaedic Hospital (€19,467), Croom hospital (€25,282) and University Maternity Hospital Limerick (€26,822).
The figures were released to David Cullinane, Sinn Féin’s health spokesman, who described the spending as “excessive”, adding that he was concerned about the extent to which it has increased in recent years.
“We are all aware of the significant cost overruns in the health service. We spent €700 million on agency spend, and now we have all of this money on taxis,” he said.
“It does raise an eyebrow as to whether we’re getting bang for our buck, and would this be better redirected to areas we need it such as a national cardiovascular strategy; waiting times in oncology ... for people waiting for chemotherapy ... are getting longer, and it’s clear in these areas more funding is needed.”
In its response, the HSE said its vehicles and staff are “prioritised for frontline, emergency work and therefore a much more effective service is provided for patients or clients who are not acutely ill through the use of taxis”.
“Taxi services are also used for transport of renal dialysis patients and at times for the transfer of patient charts/files between hospitals. The use of taxis allows the HSE flexibility in the face of variable demand,” the organisation said.
“As outlined in the Health Act, 2004, the objective of the Executive is to use the resources available to it in the most beneficial, effective and efficient manner to improve, promote and protect the health and welfare of the public.”
A spokesman for the HSE added that there is a “significant requirement” for the transfer of non-urgent public patients “for various clinical reasons”, and this includes transfer between hospitals, and between residential and acute settings.
A spokesman for the HSE Midwest said most of the expenditure in this region is for transferring patients between health facilities, many of whom are “too unwell to drive or use public transport”.
“Most of this expenditure within our acute hospital services is accounted for by dialysis patients,” he said.
