§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a study into the use of the ambulance services, in the light of a recent survey of 1,000 ambulance calls which found that half were unwarranted.
§ Dr. VaughanA National Health Service working party has recently completed a study of the ambulance service and 1 expect its report to be published in the autumn. I understand that the working party found little evidence in its own surveys, or in others which have been carried out, to suggest that there is widespread misuse. The survey to which the hon. Member refers was carried out in 1978 and the results reported last year. It was concerned with patients brought following 999 calls to one particular district general hospital, and I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's question on this subject on 16 July 1980.—[Vol. 989, c.201–2.]