HC Deb 10 November 1992 vol 213 c763W
22. Mr. Wicks

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will establish an urgent inquiry into the London ambulance service.

Mr. Sackville

The hon. Member will be aware that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health made a statement to the House on 28 October about the London ambulance service.

Ms. Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to ensure that ambulance response times in London meet the guidelines set out in the citizens charter.

Mr. Sackville

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health announced to the House on 28 October an urgent external enquiry into the operation of the computer aided dispatch system and the circumstances surrounding its failure on 26 and 27 October. This inquiry will also identify the lessons to be learned for the operation and management of the London ambulance service.

The terms of reference were announced in my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Thomason) on 6 November at columns 445–46.

Ms. Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of people in London who have died in the current year as a consequence of ambulance delays.

Mr. Sackville

There has been widespread public concern about the delays in the response and arrival times of emergency ambulances and allegations of people dying as a consequence. Every case of alleged delay is fully investigated by the London ambulance service board.

It is however, difficult to estimate the extent to which delays in the ambulance service may have contributed to the death of seriously ill patients.

Ms. Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from ISL Consultancy following its visit to the London ambulance service control on standards of organisation; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Sackville

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced to the House on 6 November the terms of reference for the independent inquiry into the operation and procurement of the computer aided dispatch (CAD) system for the London ambulance service. She has received a letter from ISL Consultancy which will be directed to the inquiry.