The proposed withdrawal of the RUH taxibus has thrown up misapprehensions about patient transport that I would like to clarify. Patient Transport Services (PTS) is part of an integrated programme of non-emergency care provided by the NHS.

The main principle is that patients should travel in reasonable comfort to and from their healthcare “without detriment to their medical condition”. Ms Valentine (letters, February 12) has been incorrectly advised that patients need to be registered disabled to qualify.

The Department of Health guidance states that access to healthcare is provided where the impact on the patient’s condition “would be detrimental to the patient’s condition or recovery to travel by other means”. Eligibility is determined either by healthcare professionals or NHS contractors.

I have also learnt that the RUH taxibus made about 15,000 journeys last year, journeys which serve a mix of patients that are eligible and not-eligible for PTS, hospital visitors and staff living in villages. The real problem, not of our making, is that bus passengers have to change in the city centre to get to a hospital that has been located on the edge of the city.

I cannot imagine that voluntary transport will have the capacity to “take up the shortfall of passengers”, as stated by Horace Prickett in your report, without significant support. Since greater efficiencies are achieved by sharing responsibilities, I hope Wiltshire will meet the NHS half way and retain this essential service, perhaps with an increased fare.

Kate Freeman, Devizes Community Area Partnership.