§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Health (1) whether he will cause an inquiry into why an ambulance was not sent to a boy in West Ham who died whilst awaiting treatment, details of which have been sent to him; and whether he will make a statement;
(2)whether he is aware that a boy recently died in West Ham because an ambulance was not sent to take him to hospital, as no doctor's order had been received for an ambulance to be sent from the depot; and what is the rule with regard to persons desiring ambulance services in an emergency;
(3)whether he is aware that before a person can obtain ambulance services a doctor must give the necessary orders; and, as on occasions no doctors are available at surgeries to give such orders, what action he proposes to take to ensure that ambulance services are readily available to all in need.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonAn ambulance arrived six minutes after being called and I am not satisfied that the enquiry suggested by my hon. Friend is necessary. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary indicated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, on 4th July, action by ambulance authorities in cases of sudden illness at home is primarily a matter for local decision by the authorities themselves and I have asked them to review their present practice.