Ambulance drivers have recently been coming out on strike in certain areas of the country with the armed services providing some form of limited cover. Obviously this has no doubt caused some concern amongst a number of members of the public who have required the use of the ambulance service during the days when ambulance drivers have been on strike.

As a taxi driver you may have received phone calls from ill people or friends/relatives of people who need to get to an accident and emergency unit or a minor injury unit of a hospital to receive treatment. This is obviously an opportunity for you to take on additional work that may be much needed to provide you with extra income.

Of course, whilst it is nice to be able to increase your income levels, how do you feel about taking ill patients to hospital? Has the patient established that it would be safe to travel by taxi to A and E as opposed to going by ambulance? How would you feel if the ill person’s health deteriorated further whilst making the journey in your taxi?

If the patient does not have access to a friend or family member’s car to transport him or her to the hospital then your taxi service may be the quickest way of getting the patient to the hospital to receive much needed treatment.

Of course, another potential benefit in taking people to hospital that may never have used your taxi service before is that they may use your services on another occasion such as for airport transfers when jetting off on a summer holiday or to be picked up from the local supermarket having done a weekly shop or to go out to a party for the evening.

Ultimately, it is your decision if you wish to become involved in transporting ill patients to the A and E or MIU of the hospital using your taxi.