§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for health what discussions his Department is undertaking with the General Medical Service Committee concerning the contract for general practitioners; what is the timetable for these discussions; and which issues are being discussed.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThere is a continuing programme of discussions between the Department and the General Medical Services Committee dealing, as necessary, with the possible development of aspects of the GPs' contract. Current issues include the further development of the health promotion elements of the contract in the context of the Department's health strategy. The Department and the GMSC are also
London ambulance service Average response limes for emergency vehicles North West North East South East South West Training LAS total Per cent, within Per cent, within Per cent, within Per cent, within Per cent, within Per cent, within 7 min. 14 min. 7 min. 14 min. 7 min. 14 min. 7 min. 14 min. 7 min. 14 min. 7 min. 14 min. April—December 1990 April—June 1990 13 77 9 72 15 78 15 80 15 85 13 77 July—September 1990 12 77 9 71 12 76 16 81 19 80 12 76 October—December 1990 12 76 8 74 12 74 14 81 20 76 12 76 January—April 1991 (Changed basis for calculating response limes)1 2 January—March 1991 8 66 5 64 6 61 11 70 14 76 8 66 April 1991 7 63 5 64 8 69 8 79 6 66 7 68 1 Up to January 1991, response times were measured from the end of the initial telephone call. Since February they have been calculated from the moment the telephone is answered in accordance with national standards. 2 Response times were based upon a sample 3 per cent, up to April 1991 compared with 100 per cent, from May, when the sampling was changed to comply with national standards.
London ambulance service Average response times for emergency vehicles North West North East South LAS total Per cent, within Per cent, within Per cent, within Per cent, within 8 min. 14 min. 8 min. 14 min. 8 min. 14 min. 8 min. 14 min. May—September 19913 4 May—June 1991 18 73 14 66 23 78 19 72 July—September 1991 15 67 13 61 21 75 17 68 3 From May 1991 the Orcon standard based on 50 per cent, within 7 minutes changed to 50 per cent, within 8 minutes. (The Orcon report was published in November 1990 and this contained the suggested response times quoted above). 4 In April 1991 the southern and the training division were combined.