Ambulance Charges

HC Deb 29 March 1965 vol 709 cc1178-9

29. Mr. Peter Walker

asked the Minister of Health whether he will review payment of ambulance charges under the National Health Service.

12. Mr. Ian Gilmour

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make provision for ambulance charges to be covered under the National Health Service in those cases where a doctor considers it necessary for a patient to be moved from one private house to another.

Mr. Loughlin

It is for each local health authority to decide whether provision of free ambulance transport for a particular journey falls within its duty under Section 27 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. A journey from one private house to another may or may not form part of their duty according to circumstances.

Mr. Walker

Will the Parliamentary Secretary consider sending a directive to local authorities suggesting that where a doctor certifies that it is important for the patient to be moved from a house where there is no one to attend to that patient to a house where there is a relative, payment should be made under the National Health Service?

Mr. Loughlin

We expect local health authorities to place the needs of the patient first. This is the paramount consideration, and we would hope that in all cases where it is necessary from a medical point of view to transfer patients from one house to another, local authorities will do the job in the interests of the patient.

Mr. Mills

Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us why, in the case of the use of helicopters as ambulances in the South-West, the local authority is enabled to charge for this service? Is not this an operation which the Air Force could carry out as a training job and help the community at the same time?

Mr. Loughlin

I think the hon. Gentleman is flying a bit high on this Question. If he puts a Question down I will give him an Answer.