Taxi Driver Online

A controversial £2m NHS taxi contract has been awarded to a private firm, despite concerns from police over the company's alleged criminal links.

Network Private Hire has been announced as the successful bidder to take patients in the Glasgow area to hospital appointments.

Strathclyde Police had twice written to the health board advising against awarding the contract to the firm.

But the board said it could face legal action if the deal was not approved.

Police were concerned about alleged links between Network Private Hire, which also trades under the name Spring Radio Cars Ltd, and persons allegedly involved in serious organised crime.

The board of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde considered the views and information put forward by Strathclyde Police but concluded that there was no legal basis not to award the taxi contract


A report which was presented to a meeting of the health board on Tuesday said: "Failure to award a contract will leave the board open to legal action and the likelihood of substantial damages and would be in conflict with the responsibilities of board members and most particularly with the responsibilities of the board's chief executive in his role as Accountable Officer. "

It also said that the taxi firm had responded to all NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's requests for information and had provided answers to all the questions raised by the board.

It said that if the police had been able to provide a legal basis for the board not to award the taxi contract then it would not have been recommended for approval.

The report also stated "deep reservations were expressed at the award of a contract to Network Private Hire in the light of the information which had been provided by Strathclyde Police."

The health board said the taxi firm's performance would be strictly monitored under the contract with particular focus on its response to complaints, late arrivals, vehicles not meeting requirements and incidence of verbal abuse.

If the taxi company does not address any issues of poor performance the NHS board will be entitled to terminate the contract.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said the force was "disappointed" at the decision to award the taxi contract.

A spokesman for Network Private Hire said: "We are very pleased with this outcome and we are looking forward to working with the health board to provide a high quality, affordable and efficient service."

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Mmmm I wonder if the heavy squad went round to see the head of the board??

They lost one of the squad and are down to a duo

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If the police have such concerns about this company they should maybe take it up with licensing. If licensing were to remove the operating license then the contract could not be awarded in the first place.

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Grandad,

The operating license system in Scotland is barely off the ground my friend, and I suppose this is one of the reasons it was introduced.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

i don't think the police should be able to object,since they obviously don't have any real evidence or they would have done something about it,and it would have been dealt with through the courts.

but then what do you expect from our fascist police force.