HC Deb 30 March 2004 vol 419 cc1376-7W
Patrick Mercer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much joint training in chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear duties (a) has been and (b) is being carried out between ambulance services and fire and rescue services. [162706]

Mr. Hutton

Training courses to allow front tine ambulance staff to respond safely and effectively to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents have been, and are being, conducted by each ambulance service to a standard syllabus delivered by nationally trained local instructors. That syllabus was developed, and the instructors trained, through the police national training centre at Winterbourne Gunner, with combined input from each of the three main blue light services. The course content places particular emphasis on multi-agency aspects and requires input from the other emergency services at local level.

Confidence in dealing with chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CBRN) incidents is further strengthened through multi-agency exercises and combined CBRN training for ambulance, police and fire incident commanders.

Patrick Mercer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of decontamination training has been given to ambulance crews. [162707]

Mr. Hutton

Each ambulance service has a cadre of staff trained to deal with the health aspects of the response to a chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear incident. Those staff have been trained to work safely in a contaminated area, to decontaminate patients and to deliver basic life support.

Patrick Mercer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of ambulance crews have been trained in the use of chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear protective equipment. [162719]

Mr. Hutton

The Ambulance Service Association reports that, to date, specialist training in the use of personal equipment has been provided for 2,500 frontline ambulance staff and that number is expected to increase to 3,000 by early summer 2004. The target is to create and maintain a trained cadre of 3,000 staff, which represents about 20 per cent. of front-line accident and emergency staff from ambulance services in England by the end of the year.

The Government have provided equipment and an additional financial contribution of £5,454,200 in 2003–04 to enable ambulance services to continue to develop and maintain specialist teams and training activities.

Patrick Mercer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what type of chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear protective equipment has been given to ambulance crews. [162720]

Mr. Hutton

Every ambulance service has been equipped with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) and mobile decontamination units to allow safe working for front-line staff Ind to enable the decontamination of patients.

The protective equipment supplied to national health service staff provides adequate protection against a wide range of industrial chemicals and other specifically identified hazards to which NHS staff might be exposed.