§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with South-West Thames regional health authority's provision of an ambulance service in Greater London.
§ Mr. John Patten:We are more than satisfied; the London ambulance service provides an excellent service to the population of the Greater London area. I am sure that the chairman of the South-West Thames regional health authority, which manages the London ambulance service on behalf of the three other Thames regions, would be pleased to provide the hon. Member with further information.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of 11 March, Official Report, column 65, if he will give for each year since 1975 the number of ambulance service journeys carrying non-National Health Service patients and the total mileage involved.
§ Mr. John Patten:The information requested is as follows: 177W
Ambulance Services. Non-NHS Patients. England Thousands Number of patient journeys* Mileage 1975 712 4,328 1976 489 3,221 1977 368 2,540 1978 280 2,076 1979† 206 1,808 1980 223 1,830 1981 165 1,504 1982 149 1,271 1983 141 1,157 * A 'patient journey' is the carriage of one patient in one direction. † 1979 data cover a period of industrial dispute early in 1979.