Having spoken again to the hospital, it appeared the quote was not the usual fare of about $100, a similar cost to an ambulance.
However, whether $500 or $100, it is still more than patients leaving the emergency department (ED) should have to pay, as all patients from Rangiora assessed by a paramedic and sent to the ED are eligible for a taxi home.
Joseph Johnson/Stuff
Rangiora patients taken to Christchurch Hospital's emergency department need to ask for a taxi chit to avoid a costly taxi ride home.
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) consumer council rural representative Joanne Gumbrell said the main problem was people not being aware of their rights, and that the service was not promoted by the CDHB or hospital staff.