HC Deb 18 January 1993 vol 217 cc42-3W
Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the percentage of ambulances in each service in Northern Ireland that responded within(a) eight minutes and (b) 14 to 20 minutes to emergency calls in 1991–92.

Mr. Hanley

The available information is as follows:

Ambulance Service Percentage responded within
(a) eight minutes (b) twenty minutes
Northern Health and Social Services Board 54.87 95.69
Southern Health and Social Services Board 55.97 90.43
Eastern Health and Social Services Board 59.09 92.87
Western Health and Social Services Board 51.73 92.62
Overall figure for Northern Ireland 56.80 93.15

Separate figures on the percentage of calls responded to between 14 and 20 minutes are not available.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of ambulance staff in Northern Ireland employed by the NHS in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, using whole-time equivalents.

Mr. Hanley

The number of whole-time equivalent ambulance staff employed by the Northern Ireland health and personal social services was as follows:

Number
1987 584.75
1988 573.50
1989 575.47
1990 581.52
1991 587.04