HC Deb 19 January 1993 vol 217 cc237-8W
Mr. McMaster

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how the emergency response time of ambulance crews is calculated by the Scottish ambulance service; what changes there have been to the method of calculation during the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: The calculation of the response time of ambulance crews is made on the basis that the time begins from the moment the 999 call is answered by the control officer until the ambulance crew arrives at the side of the patient. Previously the calculation began when the vehicle started the journey to the patient.

Mr. McMaster

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available for public inspection the logged, written and audio records for emergency calls and consequent responses from depots of the Scottish ambulance service controlled from within the Argyll and Clyde health board area from 1 November 1992 until 31 December 1992.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: On request, the general manager of the Scottish ambulance service will make available all written and audio records of emergency calls and responses from ambulance stations to legitimate inquirers, subject to appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy and confidentiality of patients. If the hon. Member contacts the general manager he will make the appropriate records available.

Mrs. Adams

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy for the Scottish ambulance service to restore the shift patterns operating in the Argyll and Clyde health board area prior to October 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: Shift patterns are an operational matter and are the responsibility of the management team led by the general manager of the Scottish ambulance service. I understand that these are based on historical level of demand at different times of the day and night. They are kept under review and are adjusted to take account of new patterns of demand. Revised shift arrangements were introduced in October following a careful assessment of the likely demand at various times of the day.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of ambulance staff in Scotland employed by the NHS in the years 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, using whole-time equivalents.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 18 January 1993]: The number of ambulance staff was as follows:

Year Ambulancemen/women Ambulance officers and control assistants Total
1987 1,751.0 181.0 1,932.0
1988 1,789.7 188.0 1,977.0
1989 1,793.2 220.0 2,013.2
1990 1,802.7 220.0 2,022.7
1991 1,963.0 223.0 2,186.9

The figures exclude administrative and clerical staff and other support staff employed by the Scottish ambulance service.