§ 24. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will direct the London ambulance service to provide a transportation service separate from the vehicles used for rapid response to 999 calls.
§ Mr. SackvilleIn April 1991, the London ambulance service—LAS—established the patient transport service. It is a separate organisation within the LAS, with dedicated control centres, management, staff and vehicles. The core service operates between 08.00 and 18.00 hours,236W Monday to Friday, to co-incide with the requirements of most hospitals and patients. In addition, the patient transport service operates up to 23.00 hours Monday to Friday and on Saturdays between 08.00 and 16.00 hours in areas where demand for the service warrants it. Outside these hours, patient transport is provided by the accident and emergency service, as part of the regional accident and emergency contracts. We are not aware of any evidence which would justify changing these arrangements.