§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken to implement the recommendations of the Miller Committee and the Platt Committee regarding the training of ambulance men.
§ Mr. MoyleThe training of ambulance staff, along the lines of the recommendations of the Millar Committee and the Platt Committee, designed to enable them to deal with the full range of accident and emergency work, has been progressively developed over the years, first under the wing of the Ambulance Service Advisory Committee and more recently the National Staff Committee for Ambulance Staff.
The present training of ambulance staff to be employed on accident and emergency work comprises a six-week course in ambulance aid followed by 12 months' experience under supervision on 379W the full range of operational duties, including accident and emergency work. During this time they are given some hospital experience by attachment primarily to accident and emergency departments. Refresher courses in ambulance aid are provided at three-yearly intervals, and the hospital experience is also repeated every three years.