It makes sense for rest-homes to use commercial transport like taxis when appropriate for residents, St John operations director Michael Brooke says.
Mr Brooke was responding to last week's article, in which Birchleigh Residential Care Centre chief executive Malcolm Hendry said the rest-home would opt for more private taxi transport because of a 38% increase in St John charges for non-emergency trips.
''If it is simply transport that a resident requires, then it makes sense for the rest-home to co-ordinate with commercial transport services like taxis.
''And if the resident needs clinical care, they need to call an ambulance."
St John also offered non-emergency travel services.
