HC Deb 01 March 1989 vol 148 cc250-1W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what number of out-patient appointments were cancelled at(a) the Newham general and (b) St. Andrews hospital, Bow, in each of the weeks in January and at first two in February consequent on no ambulance being available; and if he will list comparable figures for each of the divisions of the London ambulance service over the same period, together with respective totals.

Mr. Freeman

Out-patient appointments cancelled at Newham general and St. Andrews hospital, Bow, because no ambulance was available, were as follows:

Week ending Newham general St, Andrews, Bow
January 7 13 35
January 14 24 18
January 21 0 3
January 28 5 0
February 4 1 4
February 11 8 7

Out-patient appointments cancelled in each division of the London ambulance service because no ambulance was available were as follows:

Week ending North East North West South East South West Total
January 7 140 43 9 0 192
January 14 157 53 22 2 234
January 21 69 62 14 3 148
January 28 132 60 56 0 248
February 4 125 34 21 0 180
February 11 87 56 9 8 160

Note:

The North East division is the largest and carries the highest number of patients.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South of 23 February concerning expenditure of the London ambulance service he will itemise the expenditure of £23,967,237 on emergency ambulance service and £7,977,645 on non-emergency services, respectively, in the year 1987–88; and what are the recent sums budgeted for in the year 1988–89.

Mr. Freeman

A breakdown of the figures requested could be produced only at disproportionate cost. The figures for the emergency and non-emergency services for 1988–89 will be available when the South West Thames regional health authority produces its final accounts later this year.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what publication the annual expenditure and income of the London ambulance service has been made available to the public; when he expects its budget for the financial years 1989–90 to be agreed; and with what body or bodies he consulted prior to its determination.

Mr. Freeman

The budget for the London ambulance service is determined by the South West Thames regional health authority, not by my right hon. and learned Friend. The information requested is published in the authority's annual accounts. It is also included in the Department's publication "Health Services Costing Returns" (latest edition 1986–87) copies of which are in the Library.

The 1989–90 budget for the LAS is currently the subject of discussion with the other three Thames regions, and district health authorities, community health authorities and family practitioners committees will be consulted before the budget is approved by South West Thames regional health authority.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated or actual proportion of emergency calls to the headquarters of the London ambulance service which were initially referred to a recorded message service during the first and second weeks of February, respectively, together with the highest proportion during a specific day and hour during that fortnight.

Mr. Freeman

This information is not collected routinely in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.