Jackie Baillie has called for an evening lab service to be restored at the Vale of Leven Hospital after it was revealed that more than £50,000 was spent taxiing blood samples to other hospitals last year.

Figures revealed to the Dumbarton constituency MSP under Freedom of Information legislation shows that the bill has spiralled to almost £150,000 over the last three years.

The data also shows that there have been more than 100 journeys made by taxi transporting blood samples to other hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area every month during the last three years.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde originally refused to provide the information to the Scottish Labour Deputy Leader saying that it didn’t hold the information on file.

It was only when the MSP challenged the Health Board that they agreed to release the data having previously claimed that taxis “may be used on occasion”.

The information also shows that it would cost less for NHSGGC to employ a Biomedical Scientist to process the samples than it does to taxi them to another hospital for processing.

The lab service in the Vale of Leven Hospital (VOLH) operates from Monday to Friday between 9am until 8pm and is used for Biochemistry, Haematology and Blood Transfusion.

There is also Point of Care Testing (POCT) equipment available outwith those times for key lab tests however other testing is transported off site at regular intervals for analysis at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH).

Jackie Baillie said: “£50,000 a year sending blood samples by taxi to other hospitals is not a good use of public money which should be spent directly on health care services.

“I was shocked to find out the level of spending particularly after being told the figures were not kept on file and that this practice was only used on occasion.

“Not only is this a huge and unnecessary outlay but it is also potentially delaying test results coming back which, for patients and staff, is causing anxiety and delay to treatment.

“I think that is extremely disrespectful to the people of West Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh not to use the hospital to its full potential.”

“A review was carried out three years ago with the Health Board saying they were aiming to ensure that they could provide an efficient and effective laboratory service to the Vale of Leven Hospital but I fail to see how this can improve the service for patients. The money can be better used providing a proper lab service at the Vale.”