HC Deb 17 February 1984 vol 54 cc354-5W
Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will print a table showing district health authorities by the groupings within which ambulance services are organised.

Mr. John Patten

Following is the table:

Management of ambulance services
Managing authority Districts covered
Northern RHA Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside
Durham HA Durham, North West Durham, South West Durham, Darlington
South Tees HA South Tees, North Tees, Hartlepool
East Cumbria HA East Cumbria, West Cumbria, South Cumbria
Yorkshire RHA Dewsbury, Pontefract, Leeds Western, Leeds Eastern, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Calderdale, Bradford
Beverley HA Beverley, East Yorkshire, Scunthorpe, Grimsby
York HA York, Airedale, Northallerton, Harrogate, Scarborough
Trent RHA Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham
Southern Derbyshire Southern Derbyshire, North Derbyshire
Nottingham HA Nottingham, Bassetlaw, Central Nottinghamshire
North Lincolnshire HA North Lincolnshire, South Lincolnshire
Leicestershire HA Leicestershire
Cambridge HA Cambridge, Peterborough, Huntingdon
Norwich HA Norwich, West Norfolk and Wisbech, Great Yarmouth and Waveney
East Suffolk HA East Suffolk, West Suffolk
North Bedfordshire HA North Bedfordshire, South Bedfordshire
East Hertfordshire HA East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, North West Hertfordshire, South West Hertfordshire
Mid-Essex HA Mid-Essex, West Essex, North East Essex, Southend, Basildon and Thurrock
Medway HA Medway, Dartford and Gravesham, Canterbury and Thanet, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, South East Kent
Eastbourne HA Eastbourne, Brighton, Hastings
South West Thames RHA The districts comprising Greater London
East Surrey HA East Surrey, Mid Surrey, North West Surrey, South West Surrey
Worthing HA Worthing, Chichester, Mid-Downs
Winchester HA Winchester, Basingstoke and North Hampshire, Portsmouth, South East Hampshire, Southampton and South West Hampshire
East Dorset HA East Dorset, West Dorset
Swindon HA Swindon, Bath, Salisbury
Isle of Wight HA Isle of Wight
Oxfordshire HA Oxfordshire
Northampton HA Northampton, Kettering
Aylesbury Vale HA Aylesbury Vale, Milton Keynes, Wycombe
West Berkshire HA West Berkshire, East Berkshire
Bristol and Weston HA Bristol and Weston, Southmead, Frenchay
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Managing authority Districts covered
Exeter HA Exeter, North Devon, Torbay, Plymouth
Gloucester HA Gloucester, Cheltenham and District
Somerset HA Somerset
West Midlands RHA The districts comprising the West Midlands Metropolitan County
Worcester and District HA Worcester and District, Herefordshire, Bromsgrove and Redditch, Kidderminster and District
Shropshire HA Shropshire
Mid-Staffordshire HA Mid-Staffordshire, North Staffordshire, South East Staffordshire
South Warwickshire HA South Warwickshire
Mersey RHA The districts comprising the Merseyside Metropolitan County
Chester HA Chester, Halton, Warrington, Macclesfield, Crewe
North Western RHA The districts comprising the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County
Preston HA Preston, Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde, Lancaster, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, Chorley and South Ribble, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many emergency calls were answered by ambulance services in England, in each regional health authority and in the group of district health authorities in Cheshire which jointly organise their services, per 100,000 of population, in each of the last five years;

(2) how many miles were driven by (a) non-emergency ambulances, and (b) emergency ambulances in each regional health authority and in each group of district health authorities which jointly organise their services, in 1979 and at the latest available date;

(3) what is the average number of emergency ambulances on call per 100,000 of population in England in each regional health authority and in each group of district health authorities which organise their ambulance services jointly;

(4) how many staff are employed in the ambulance services of each regional health authority and in each group of district health authorities which organise their services jointly, distinguishing between front line staff and support staff at December 1982 and at the latest available date.

Mr. John Patten

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidelines exist for the provision of ambulance services in rural areas.

Mr. John Patten

Comprehensive guidance to health authorities on the operational control and use of ambulance services is set out in health circular HC(78)45. This includes advice on the special considerations of providing ambulance transport in rural areas. A copy of the circular is in the Library.