The patient transfer team will be the ’first to know’ if there are any problems with the new taxi operator, Health Minister Kate Beecroft has pledged.

ComCab Liverpool this week took over the taxi transfer contract, for patients travelling from airports to hospitals in England.

In the House of Keys on Tuesday, Mrs Beecroft acknowledged there were concerns from some patients who were used to the ’exemplary service’ provided by Bridgewater, which lost out in the tender process.

But she pointed out that ComCab had 15 years’ experience in patient transfer services and insisted there should be no adverse impact on users.

The minister told members that the new service would be monitored and there would be weekly meetings between department representatives and ComCab, and direct feedback from patients was welcome.

’Our patient transfer team would be the first to know of any problems, because they would be contacted direct by the patients themselves, which is normal practice,’ she added.

Ayre and Michael MHK Tim Baker had sought assurances about monitoring of the services.

Mrs Beecroft also confirmed that the anticipated saving from the change in contract would amount to £33,000, based on the difference in prices per journey, but added the proviso that the actual saving would depend on the number of people travelling for hospital appointments.

In response to a question on whether there had been any problems so far, Mrs Beecroft said: ’I have certainly heard nothing in the way of complaints, but it has only been one day.’

All taxis used would be wheelchair-friendly, Mrs Beecroft said.