Health Minister confirms taxis are available for tertiary referrals in Spain

The Minister for Health has assured GHA patients that anyone who needs a taxi to attend a tertiary referral appointment in Spain will continue to have one.

Gemma Arias-Vasquez posted a statement on her facebook page after a GHA notice was circulated flagging a policy change.

The notice said taxis for tertiary appointments in Spain will no longer be paid for and there would also be no petrol allowance.

The Minister said her Ministry had not been made aware of the notice, which did not explain the situation correctly.

She stressed anyone who needs a taxi will continue to have one, and that no patient will be left without a way to reach the care they have been referred to.

What is changing is that taxis will no longer be provided automatically where they are not needed, in order to prevent abuse of the service.

She said public money spent on transport that is not required is money not spent on patient care.