HC Deb 13 July 1971 vol 821 c203
24. Mr. Wallace

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances are National Health Service patients entitled to compensation for injury or death arising from the public service ambulance in which they were conveyed being involved in a road crash.

Mr. Alison

This would be a matter for the local authority concerned in the particular case or for the court if legal action were taken. I understand that it is normally the practice of local authorities to insure against claims in respect of injury to or death of ambulance passengers.

Mr. Wallace

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if an ambulance driver who collapsed and thereby caused a crash was suspected of suffering some heart trouble, and the coroner's verdict so indicated, the individuals injured or the relatives of persons killed in such an accident would have extreme difficulty in obtaining compensation?

Mr. Alison

Normally, the insurance arrangements which ambulance authorities make would cover such a case, but I shall study the particular contingency which the hon. Gentleman has specified.