Apparently some even offering free trips, although they're arranged via the hospital, so at least that would help stop anyone taking the pi$$.
But appears that there's very few takers for genuine A&E emergencies, if any
Ambulance strikes: Local taxi firms step up to offer free trips to A&E during walkoutshttps://inews.co.uk/news/health/ambulan ... ts-2041867One taxi boss offering free trips said: ‘As a community, if we don’t step up and help at these times, who will?’Some private taxi companies have been providing free trips to A&E for those struggling to get an ambulance during strikes on Wednesday.
While ministers previously claimed taxis would be “block-booked” to help ferry patients to A&E, there appears to be no formal arrangement with firms in parts of the country – leaving many patients in non-life-threatening condition to wait hours or make their own way to hospital.
But some companies have taken it upon themselves to offer free service for customers who need to book their own ride.
Globe Taxis Rochdale said it would provide transport “free of charge” to those looking to urgently get to hospital and had been in touch with local hospitals to make sure patients were aware.
Mohammed Asif of Globe Taxis told i: “We’re a family business that’s been running in Rochdale for over 45 years, we are a part of the community transporting our regular customers every day. and obviously we didn’t want anybody to be affected by this.
“We spoke to (the hospitals) and said if they’re struggling with any patients who need to get in, do not hesitate to call us, and we’re happy to pick them up free and get them to hospital. As a community, if we don’t step up and help at these times, who will?
“We’ve had quite a few callouts, and even requests from other boroughs to come into Rochdale. A lot of people are phoning up and really appreciating it, which is really good.”
He said that so far most callouts had been for patient transport, rather than those with serious injuries, adding: “We’ve not had an emergency like that… I hope not, but we just want to help as much as we can.
“The management is obviously going to reimburse all the drivers, and we’re happy to carry on (on future strike days), however long it goes.”
In Staffordshire, Stafford & Stone Airport Transfers was also offering free travel.
The firm said it had two vehicles for use by the local community “for anyone who has an emergency and needs to get to the hospital ASAP”.
It warned: “Please note we are not medical trained, nor can we give any advice. We are here to just offer a fast and free service to the hospital rather than waiting for a taxi to arrive.”
Meanwhile, Brighton’s Streamline Taxis was offering half-price trips to hospital on strike days.
Director of operations Jason Cheeseman told i: “Streamline as a company always try to assist the local community.
“We ran a ‘cabs for jabs’ promotion in lockdown where we took people that couldn’t really afford a taxi for their jabs at local Covid centres.
“On this occasion, we thought that we could assist today, getting people who needed urgently to get to A&E in there without having to worry too much about the cost.
“The uptake has been good and all the customers that the drivers have spoken to have been very appreciative of what we have done.
“All our call centre staff, directors and drivers have all got behind this initiative. We will be doing the same again on 28 December.”
While the schemes were warmly welcomed online, health bosses suggested that there hadn’t been “large numbers” of arrivals by taxi.
A chief executive of a large northern teaching trust told the Health Service Journal (HSJ) it had “so far not (been) as bad as I’d feared in terms of hospital pressures – in fact, (emergency departments) are less pressured than usual”.
They added: “We haven’t seen cars/taxis with patients arriving in large numbers but the problem is that much of the risk is not currently visible to us given people will be at home. We therefore expect very busy days on Thursday and Friday.”
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