HC Deb 29 October 1992 vol 212 cc837-8W
Mr. Shersby

To ask t he Secretary of State for Health what is the average response time for ambulances responding to emergency calls in the Greater London area; what assessment she has made of whether ambulances are reaching emergency cases quickly enough; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Sackville

The table details the latest figures held centrally on the performance of the accident and emergency service provided by the London ambulance service.

Patient Transport Services 1990–91 Quality of service for London Ambulance Service Response Times
Number
Total number of emergency calls 456,695
Number where response within 7 minutes 50,390
Percentage of calls where response within 7 minutes 11.0
Number where response within 14 minutes 336,734
Percentage of calls where response within 14 minutes 73.7

Source: KA34 DH Statistics Division 2B 1992

The response time of an ambulance is the time taken from an emergency call being received to the arrival of a fully equipped vehicle at the patient's location.

As these figures illustrate, a significant proportion of accident and emergency ambulances from the London ambulance service are failing to meet the performance standards set out in the patients charter. I have discussed with the London ambulance service its plans for raising its performance including the full implementation of the computer aided dispatch system and new staff rosters and I, together with South West Thames regional health authority, which is responsible for the service, will monitor progress over the coming months.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to improve the performance of the London ambulance service; and if she will make a statement.

Incidence rates (per 100,000 population) for malignant neoplasms of female breast (ICD1 174) and malignant neoplasms of cervix uteri (ICD1 180) for the Northern and Oxford Regional Health Authorities and the United Kingdom, 1983 to 1987 by age breakdown
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987
Age group ICD 174 ICD 180 ICD 174 ICD 180 ICD 174 ICD 180 ICD 174 ICD 180 ICD 174 ICD 180
Northern Regional Health Authority
20 to 29 2.6 7.1 5.6 5.2 3.4 6.8 4.6 4.2 4.6 7.1
30 to 39 30.9 19.5 41.4 24.7 36.6 33.8 35.6 25.2 38.3 23.7
40 to 49 114.5 21.2 103.0 19.8 110.9 39.8 108.0 23.8 122.9 22.4
50 to 59 131.6 28.4 156.9 21.1 142.3 20.9 156.7 30.3 152.0 27.2
60 to 69 160.9 32.6 204.7 31.6 168.9 24.9 183.3 38.8 204.7 29.4
70 + 201.3 22.1 211.6 27.4 213.9 35.2 210.3 30.0 205.8 20.4
Oxford Regional Health Authority
20 to 29 1.1 6.0 2.6 4.8 3.5 7.1 4.4 5.4 3.8 5.2
30 to 39 37.5 14.0 35.5 22.2 36.2 23.6 37.1 25.3 44.0 19.0
40 to 49 124.5 23.6 123.3 12.8 126.8 20.8 112.5 18.2 129.4 21.7
50 to 59 160.7 17.9 158.7 24.5 178.3 18.8 166.9 13.8 217.9 19.4
60 to 69 190.3 21.2 211.4 33.9 240.9 21.8 226.7 22.4 231.0 25.6
70 + 283.7 28.8 274.9 17.1 251.2 21.4 252.3 17.3 285.7 14.1
United Kingdom
20 to 29 3.3 7.4 3.6 6.6 3.0 7.0 3.8 7.0 3.6 6.2
30 to 39 35.3 21.0 34.2 24.7 35.1 25.0 39.2 24.5 35.7 22.8
40 to 49 109.7 21.0 108.6 22.8 114.5 22.8 115.9 23.6 115.9 24.2
50 to 59 154.9 24.1 154.7 23.4 154.8 23.1 163.5 22.5 162.2 22.2

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

A number of measures have been taken and others are planned to improve the performance of the London ambulance service.

These include: an external inquiry, led by a chief ambulance officer from another metropolitan region into the operation of the Computer Aided Dispatch system; a support system involving, where necessary, direct voice contact between the control centre and ambulances, building extra safeguards to ensure that ambulances are on their way; a change in the management structure of the service to ensure that Ministers are kept in proper and regular touch with progress; increases in the staffing levels in the London ambulance service control room; an increase of 9 per cent. over 1991–92 in the funding of the London ambulance service in 1992–93 to nearly £ 70 million.

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