HC Deb 27 February 1991 vol 186 cc517-8W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the time spent by any 999 caller in the automatic telephone stacking systems of the London ambulance service is included in the response time recommended as a component of the national ORCON standards.

Mr. Dorrell

No. The response time commences when the London ambulance service operator answers the call.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the present established strength of officer and control assistant grades of the London ambulance service; what plans there are for its expansion or contraction; and for what purposes.

Mr. Dorrell

At 30 September 1989, the latest date for which figures are held centrally, there were 270 whole-time

£ million
1983 1984
Region ERDF ESF EAGGF1 EIB ERDF ESF ESGGF1 EIB
Borders Nil 0.8 Nil Nil
Central 4.3 2.0 2.4 Nil
Dumfries and Galloway 0.9 1.2 2.3 Nil
Fife 7.9 2.8 4.9 Nil
Grampian 0.2 4.0 Nil Nil
Highlands and Islands 19.7 42.0 20.6 Nil
Lothian 2.1 70.6 7.3 150.6
Strathclyde 38.4 37.6 58.6 Nil
Tayside 9.5 3.2 6.1 13.0
Other 0.2 20.2 1.1 20.4
Total 83.2 21.5 164.4 103.3 19.0 164.0
1 denotes not available.
1 Fiscal year; not available by region.
2 Multi region; funding of schemes run across more than one region.

Note:

Due to rounding, regions showing nil expenditure may have received amounts of less than £50,000.

£ million
1985 1986
Region ERDF ESF EAGGF1 EIB ERDF ESF ESGGF1 EIB
Borders Nil Nil Nil Nil
Central 7.2 7.5 2.9 7.5
Dumfries and Galloway Nil Nil Nil Nil
Fife 5.5 Nil 6.0 5.0
Grampian 0.4 Nil Nil Nil
Highlands and Islands 11.0 Nil 4.3 7.0
Lothian 6.5 81.0 7.6 213.0
Strathclyde 37.2 10.2 48.6 53.0
Tayside 1.3 Nil 14.4 8.2

equivalent ambulance officers and 140 whole-time equivalent control assistants in post in the London ambulance service. Details are not held centrally on their staffing plans. The managment of the London ambulance service is the responsibility of the London ambulance service board. The hon. Member may wish to write to its chairman, Mr. James Harris, for details.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of non-urgent cases cancelled by the London ambulance service in October, November and December 1990, respectively, and the approximate proportion of each relating to walking and chair cases in each month.

Mr. Dorrell

The information requested is not held centrally. The management of the London ambulance service is the responsibility of the London ambulance service board. The hon. Member may wish to write to Mr. James Harris, the chairman of the board, for details.

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