§ Mr. BrandrethTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has received a report from the South West Thames regional health authority showing the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the 1993 inquiry report into the failure of the computer-aided dispatch system at the London ambulance service.
§ Mr. SackvilleI understand that the South West Thames regional health authority—RHA—is today publishing a report of progress by the London ambulance service—LAS—in implementing the inquiry team's recommendations. The report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, will be considered at a public meeting of the RHA next week.
As the Government announced in December, a further £14.8 million is being invested in the LAS in 1994–95 to help it improve its services. This money will enable the LAS to buy 120 new accident and emergency vehicles and recruit 240 additional staff. The extra money is being tied to specific targets for improving ambulance performance against national patients charter standards.