§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidelines his Department gives on ambulance replacement regarding(a) design and (b) origin of manufacture.
§ Mrs. CurrieDHSS guidelines to NHS authorities on(a) cover chassis equipment, basic body construction and dimensions, standard equipment facilities and fitments, allowing for modification in the light of local conditions and needs. Ambulance design criteria and replacement policy are currently under review.
On (b) guidelines do not specify requirements as to origin of manufacture. Health authorities are expected to seek best long-term value for money, taking all relevant factors of cost, quality and service into account.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what European Economic Community regulations apply to the purchase or replacement of ambulances.
§ Mrs. CurrieDirective 77/62/EEC, as amended by directive 80/767/EEC, relates to the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public supply contracts.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services after what mileage an ambulance is replaced.
§ Mrs. CurrieNHS ambulances are usually replaced after 140,000 miles or seven years. Individual replacement decisions are taken in the light of local usage and circumstances.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services from where ambulances are purchased.
§ Mrs. CurrieAmbulances currently in use by the NHS have been purchased by competitive tendering from suppliers in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the European Economic Community. Other sources of supply can be considered on their merits.
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§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many ambulances have been off the road in Devon in the last year and every month in the current year due to lost wheels or half shaft problems.
§ Mrs. CurrieDuring 1987, 58 ambulances were taken off the road in Devon due to either lost wheel or half shaft defects. All the vehicles were returned to service by 11 January 1988. The 58 vehicles were withdrawn from service on 30 April 1988 and replacement of these vehicles will be completed by the end of this month.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of ambulances in service for each district health authority for each year since 1983.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe available information, which is given in the table, is not precisely in the form requested. Information is available only centrally by ambulance authority rather than district health authority.
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Ambulance Services Total Vehicles used to Transport Patients
1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 England 6,605 6,491 6,440 6,459 Northern 546 470 458 477 Cleveland 83 82 84 82 Cumbria 94 92 92 94 Durham 111 111 95 99 Northumbria M.A.S. 258 185 187 202 Yorkshire 597 636 638 647 Humberside 167 165 167 167 North Yorkshire 113 113 115 116 West Yorkshire M.A.S. 317 358 356 364 Trent 644 648 678 688 Derbyshire 135 132 142 132 Leicestershire 133 137 142 142 Lincolnshire 97 99 99 95 Nottinghamshire 138 137 130 131 South Yorkshire M.A.S. 141 143 165 188 East Anglian 218 219 225 231 Cambridgeshire 64 64 63 54 Norfolk 92 90 94 96 Suffolk 62 65 68 81 North West Thames 196 193 200 202 Bedfordshire 70 70 70 71 Hertfordshire 126 123 130 131 North East Thames 149 148 137 133 Essex 149 148 137 133 South East Thames 317 300 300 300 East Sussex 91 94 94 94 Kent 226 206 206 206 South West Thames 1,179 1,184 1,170 1,127 Surrey 127 121 121 104 West Sussex 85 88 83 85 London A. S. 967 975 966 938 Wessex 308 297 293 280 Dorset 59 57 59 62 Hampshire 161 154 144 130 Wiltshire 75 73 74 73 Isle of Wight 13 13 16 15 Oxford 285 284 283 279 Berkshire 75 75 74 72 Buckinghamshire 78 76 76 76
1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 Northamptonshire 75 76 76 76 Oxfordshire 57 57 57 55 South Western 484 480 447 457 Avon 142 143 111 114 Cornwall/Isles of Scilly 76 72 68 71 Devon 117 119 121 124 Gloucestershire 98 83 82 83 Somerset 51 63 65 65 West Midlands 728 713 690 713 Hereford and Worcester 96 94 97 94 Shropshire 73 71 70 67 Staffordshire 148 153 154 156 Warwickshire 59 54 56 59 West Midlands Metropolitan 352 341 313 337 Mersey 338 351 387 393 Cheshire 105 114 118 121 Mersey Metropolitan Council 233 237 269 272 North Western 616 568 534 532 Lancashire 218 185 176 171 Greater Manchester M.A.S. 398 383 358 361 Source: York health authority.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many ambulances have been replaced nationally each year since 1983.
§ Mrs. CurrieApproximately 850 NHS ambulance vehicles have been replaced annually in the United Kingdom since 1983.