Health trusts spend £40m on patient taxis in five years

Patricia Davis lives in a rural part of County Tyrone on the outskirts of Dungannon.

She was a nurse for almost 40 years, but had to leave due to ill health.

After developing sores on her foot because of poor circulation, she had a bypass, but eventually complications meant she had to have one of her legs amputated.

She now uses a prosthetic leg and sometimes a wheelchair.

“I was a gym fanatic and always so independent and I loved driving, but I’ve lost all of that now,” she said.

“I really do miss it, especially because I have lots of hospital appointments now that I need to attend.”

Patricia regularly uses her local community transport service to take her to her appointments.

“I honestly don’t know what I would do without it, it’s my lifeline.

“They take me to my local appointments, but also as far as Belfast when I need to go to the City Hospital.”

Commenting on the public taxi expenditure, she added: “I’m really surprised about how much is being spent.

“Obviously people need to get to their healthcare appointments, but I’ve never heard of it and I’ve never had the offer to get a taxi paid for me, so I’ve relied on community transport.”