HC Deb 27 October 1987 vol 121 cc152-3
3. Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the response times of the London ambulance service during April, May and June of 1987; and what action he has taken to ensure that previous levels of performance are maintained.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mrs. Edwina Currie)

In general, yes. During the period January—June 1987 the London ambulance service responded to 89 per cent. of accident and emergency calls within 14 minutes and 95 per cent. within 17 minutes. That is an improvement on last year.

Mr. Spearing

Does the Minister agree that the question was about April, May and June? In her letter to me dated 8 September the hon. Lady admitted not only that shifts were not covered but that more than 50 emergency ambulances were single manned during that period. Is it not a fact also that the London ambulance service will have to contribute from its resources and, therefore, from economies 1 per cent. of the pay offer now on the table? Does the hon. Lady agree that the effectiveness of ambulance services is not helped by spreading resources ever more thinly and that the emergency services must be demand-led and not budget-prescribed?

Mrs. Currie

I am sorry if the hon. Gentleman is not satisfied with the figures that I give him. He never is. However, I point out that in the period that I mentioned—the first half of this year—the average response time for emergency calls in this city was just over 10 minutes. Given the traffic conditions in the capital that is absolutely marvellous, and it compares very well with the average response time in Derbyshire—which contains my constituency—where that time is well over 13 minutes.

Mr. Harry Greenway

Is my hon. Friend aware that in my constituency and in many others car parking is so dense and tight that emergency services such as the ambulance service simply cannot get to the people whom they need to collect for serious and emergency operations? Will her Department take a serious interest in this issue to see what can be done to improve matters?

Mrs. Currie

That is a most serious matter. Emergency services are allocated largely on the basis of medical need, and it is a matter of concern if ambulances cannot get through to the people who need them. If my hon. Friend will give me more details, I shall take the matter up with the appropriate authorities.

Mr. Spearing

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest and most appropriate opportunity.