PATIENT transport services ferrying people to and from York Hospital are not efficiently run, according its boss.

Hospital chief executive Jim Easton was speaking after we revealed this week how the patient transport service had been put out to tender - which means it could be taken over by a private company.

Possible privatisation was branded deeply worrying by a union secretary for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, which currently runs patient transport.

Mr Easton told the hospital's annual general meeting that there had been a review of the service, and there were problems with the way it was run.

"We don't run a particularly efficient transport service," he said.

"We have large numbers of missed passengers. Ambulances are going to pick people up who aren't there.

"We're not particularly proud of how it currently runs.

"We've been working very closely with the ambulance service about it. I'm sure they will put in a very strong tender."

York Ambulance Unison secretary Glen Gears said there was also "very positive feedback" from patients.

He said: "The Patient Transport Service (PTS) moves thousands of patients each year. Inevitably there will be cases where, unfortunately, some patients have faced delays. However, in a good number of cases, the problems have been outside the control of the ambulance service.

"PTS staff recognise the need to work closely with York Hospital to address the concerns they have with patient delays, and they also recognise that the rapid pace of change in the NHS requires greater and greater flexibility.

"I am sure that the bid submitted by Yorkshire Ambulance Service will reflect this.

"Currently our members are trained to administer oxygen, use defibrillators and when they come across scenes of accidents or are flagged down by members of the public they are able to administer life-saving immediate care to those patients.

"If Yorkshire Ambulance Service is not successful when tendering for this contract, it would mean that in the York area the NHS would no longer be responsible for delivery of all ambulance care.

"As parts of the service would be in the hands of private organisations who want to make a profit from patients, I believe - based on the experience in other areas - that patients will suffer as a consequence."

Mike Shanahan, assistant director of operations for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: "The Patient Transport Service development has been constrained by the terms of the contract that has been in place for a number of years.

"It is right and proper that the contract is changed to reflect the needs of patients today.

"We are working with York Hospital to assist in the redesign of the contract and to help them understand what needs to be in place."