§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has of the population to which, because of relative remoteness from ambulance stations, the time standard for an ambulance to arrive after call out, set out in the patients charter, cannot at present apply; whether he has any proposals to provide funds or a requirement for ambulance services in such areas; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe location of ambulance stations is not necessarily a critical factor in meeting time standards in rural areas as vehicles may respond from predetermined critical location points.
Decisions on resources for the ambulance service and the standards required are made by the health authority or NHS trust purchasing the service, against the background of the national charter standard.