§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance services are failing to meet the maximum response times set by the patients charter; and what action she is taking to improve response times.
§ Mr. SackvilleIn 1991–92, the latest year for which information is available and before the patients charter was published, 20 ambulance authorities in England failed to achieve the standards set out in the patients charter for responding to calls. Under the national health service internal market it is for purchasers of services to set the standards required of service providers. This should ensure continued improvement in the standards met by ambulance authorities. The Government are concerned to576W see the charter standards achieved and we are monitoring closely ambulance authorities which still need to improve performance.