§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the speed with which expert medical attention is brought to the victims of accidents.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the provision of emergency medical services at the scene of accidents; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe Standing Medical Advisory Committee has advised that there is little evidence to justify doctors routinely attending the scene of an accident. The basic training of ambulance men is designed to enable them to give the full range of ambulance aid, which includes the care and management of accident victims. I am satisfied that adequate local arrangements exist where exceptionally the presence of a doctor is required.
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§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual expenditure on the emergency services for which he is responsible.
§ Mr. Roland MoyleDuring the year ending 31st March 1976—the latest for which figures are available—£85.77 million was spent on the running costs of the emergency ambulance services and hospital accident and emergency departments. This sum excludes the support services provided by other parts of the National Health Service for the treatment of accident victims.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of lives which would be saved and of the number of persons spared permanent disablement if expert medical attention were brought to the scene of every serious accident with the speed of the additional emergency services.
§ Mr. MoyleAs I am not aware of the existence of any detailed studies into these matters, I am unable to make any such estimates. The Standing Medical Advisory Committee has advised that it is normally better for doctors to remain where full facilities are immediately available to them rather than for them to attend at the site of each accident.