§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Minister of Health what is the relative cost to the National Health Service of the use of ambulances and private cars for the transport of patients.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe average cost per vehicle mile for ambulances in England and Wales for the financial year 1966–67 was 5s. 0d. The recommended rates paid by most county councils to drivers of private cars in the Hospital Car Service are as follows:—
Cars up to 1399 c.c.
7½d. per mile for the first 1,000 miles run in a month.
5½d. per mile for the ensuing mileage in a month.
Cars over 1399 c.c.
8d. per mile for the first 1,000 miles run in a month.
6d. per mile for the ensuing mileage run in a month.
§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Minister of Health what instructions he has given to local hospital management committees over the use of private cars in preference to ambulances for the transport of patients.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIt is for the appropriate local authorities to decide what forms of transport to provide for the conveyance of patients. In an O. and M. Report on out-patient departments and the Ambulance Service issued by my Department in August, 1964, all authorities were recommended to consider the possibility of extending or introducing use of the Hospital Car Service before increasing ambulance fleets.
145W
§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Minister of Health what is the annual cost of the ambulance service transporting patients to and from the Bedford General Hospital, north wing, and south wing; and how this compares per capita with the average for England and Wales.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIn the year 1966–67 the average cost of ambulance transport in England and Wales was 23s. 11d. per person carried, for an average length of journey of 6.1 miles. I regret that separate figures are not available for journeys to individual hospitals.