§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table of ambulance services' response rates in relation to the patients charter; by what other criteria these services are assessed for effectiveness and efficiency; and if he will make a statement.
Target Achievement Target Achievement High population density 50 per cent of calls within 7 minutes 44 per cent. 95 per cent of calls within 14 minutes 87 per cent. Medium population density 50 per cent. of calls within 8 minutes 53 per cent. 95 per cent. of calls within 18 minutes 94 per cent. Sparse population density 50 per cent. of calls within 8 minutes 47 per cent. 95 per cent. of calls within 21 minutes 89 per cent. Response rates are currently the main measure of performance but level and nature of complaints is also an important indicator of the quality of service. The general manager of the Scottish Ambulance Service has been asked to consider devising further performance indicators which will measure effectiveness, efficiency and economy. In addition, the new consultant medical director will be conducting a medical audit of the outcome of pre-hospital care provided by ambulance staff.
644W
- Aberdeen Royal Hospitals Trust
Details of contracts between health boards and NHS trusts are not held centrally.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contracts awarded by(a) the Argyll and Clyde health board and (b) the Greater Glasgow health board to outside parties in relation to the process of compulsory competitive tendering, in each of the past four yeaers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 15 December 1992]: The contracts awarded were as follows:
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 15 December 1992]: The Scottish Ambulance Service measures its performance against national targets, often referred to as the ORCON standards. The targets in response to emergency and 999 calls have been set having regard to population density and are as follows:
Population density 50 per cent. of calls responded to within (minutes) 95 per cent. of calls responded to within (minutes) High 7 14 Medium 8 18 Sparse 8 21 For the period 1 April to 30 September 1992 the Scottish Ambulance Service achieved the following response rates:
During the last year the Scottish Ambulance Service has made significant improvements to the quality arid speed of its accident and emergency response by the introduction of paramedic rapid response units mounted in either LandRover Discoverys or on motor cycles. Furthermore, recognising the special problems the service has in responding to calls in Greater Glasgow, the accident and emergency service has recently been enhanced by an additional 14 full-time qualified ambulance personnel.
645WFrom 1 April 1993, the service will be improving its overall level and speed of response across Scotland, particularly in rural areas, by introducing the United Kingdom's first integrated air ambulance service, which will employ three air ambulance helicopters and three fixed-wing aircraft.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his officials give to those ambulance services which are deemed to be inefficient in relation to(a) the patients charter and (b) ORCON in relation to response rates; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 15 December 1992]: The general manager of the Scottish Ambulance Service is accountable to the Common Services Agency for the performance of the Scottish Ambulance Service. However, my officials in the Scottish Office Home and Health Department hold regular meetings with senior staff of the Common Services Agency and encourage measures aimed to improve response rates having regard to the resources made available.