§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cause of an ambulance overturning between Redruth and Truro on 27th March; what was the age and model of the vehicle; how many stretcher cases it was designed to carry; how many elderly patients were travelling in it at the time of the accident; whether the loading was in accordance with normal practice; and if she will review the standard of ambulances in Cornwall in the light of this incident.
§ Dr. OwenThe cause of the accident is under investigation by the police and the ambulance department of the Cornwall Area Health Authority.
The ambulance is a Bedford OF registered on 31st August 1973 and has travelled about 10,000 miles. The Bed-
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NP2 (SSA 1973) The second pension.* NP3 (SSA 1973) Occupational pension schemes.* NP4 (SSA 1973) The reserve pension scheme.* NI.2 Prescribed Industrial Diseases. NI.3 Pneumoconiosis and Byssinosis. NI.9 The effect on benefits of a long stay in hospital. NI.39 Contract of Service. NI.105 Four weekly and quarterly payments. NI.184 Pensions for people over 80. NI.205 Attendance allowance (for adults and children). NI.207 (Benefits paid for) occupational deafness. NI.206 New NI contributions (from week commencing 21st January 1974). PN.1 Disablement and death benefits. WS.1 Supplements to Workmen's Compensation. SA.28 Medical treatment for holiday makers and other temporary visitors to countries of the European Economic Community. FAM.1 Guide to Family Allowances. FAM.32 Families entering Great Britain. FAM.32A Families leaving Great Britain. FAM.33 Children absent from their families. FAM.34 Children over minimum school-leaving age. ford CF is widely used by ambulance services; it is one of two recommended by the Department. It is designed to carry two stretcher or eight sitting patients, and at the time of the accident was carrying eight elderly sitting patients from Barncoose Geriatric Day Hospital. Four of these patients were kept in hospital following the accident but have now been discharged. The patients were sitting four per side in accordance with normal practice.
The Department has advised new health authorities that ambulances should be replaced after seven years or 140,000 miles. Ambulance fleets are being reviewed by this standard: a separate review in Cornwall is not necessary.