HC Deb 14 March 1989 vol 149 cc158-9W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings took place between Ministers in his Department and appointed members of the South West Thames regional health authority concerning the budget of the London ambulance service for the year 1988–89; and what meetings have taken place, or he expects to take place, concerning determination of the budget for the year 1989–90.

Mr. Freeman

No such meetings have taken or will take place. The determination of the London ambulance service revenue budget is a matter for the South West Thames regional health authority in consultation with the other three Thames regions.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state the general reason why between 50 and 160 out-patient appointments per week were cancelled in the north-east division of the London ambulance service in January and the first fortnight of February because no ambulance was available; and what steps he or the South West Thames regional health authority intends to take to eliminate such cancellations throughout the area of the London ambulance service.

Mr. Freeman

The principal reason for these cancellations was a shortage of staff. I understand there are currently 43 vacancies—out of a whole time establishment of 248—in the north-east division of the London ambulance service. Every effort is being made to fill the vacancies.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his reply of Wednesday 1 March,Official Report, column 251 concerning the proportion of emergency calls for ambulances diverted to recorded message machines at the headquarters of the London ambulance service, he will publish what figures are available in respect of the use of this service during the month of February, including the proportion of time when calls were diverted to it and an indication of the range of wait for callers before being able to communicate details of emergencies.

Mr. Freeman

This information is not collected routinely and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South concerning the 1989–90 budget of the London ambulance service,Official Report, 1 March, column 251, he will state when discussions with the non-managing Thames regional health authorities will be concluded; what information has been supplied to the other named consultants and by what date they were asked to give their observations; when the South West Thames regional hospital authority will decide on the budget; when he expects to receive its request to him for the sum required; and on what date its estimates will be made public.

Mr. Freeman

This is a matter for the South West Thames regional health authority and the hon. Member may wish to contact the regional chairman, Mrs. Julia Cumberlege.