§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for any variation in the designation or standards relating to Orcon levels of response for ambulance services.
§ Mr. DorrellResponse times have always been recommended rather than mandatory and will remain so. The management executive recently issued a guide to good practice in the ambulance service which included a re-classification of services which are now termed urban or rural dependent upon population density. New emergency response standards for urban services have been slightly relaxed in recognition of increased traffic density; standards for rural services have been slightly tightened because of improved road networks. Non-emergency transport standards are now for local discretion based on the requirements of clinicians and unit managers. The guide to good practice is available in the Library.