§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many private ambulance contracts there were for Scotland in the period 1985 to 1993;
(2) how many private patient journeys were undertaken by NHS patients in Scotland for journeys to and from (a) nursing homes and (b) private hospitals in the period from 1985 to 1993; what ambulance charges were levied on these NHS patients; and what was the total money earned from these charges for the same period;
(3) if he will list the NHS ambulance services in Scotland which have contracts with private sector health care providers.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 17 June 1994]: Information is not collected centrally on private ambulance contracts, but it is considered that there has been little use if any, of such contractors by NHS bodies in Scotland since the Scottish ambulance service exists to meet the needs of NHS patients.
60WNo charges are levied on NHS patients for any ambulance journeys provided by the Scottish ambulance service for NHS treatment in nursing homes or private hospitals. Non NHS patients are carried by the Scottish ambulance service only on the basis where there is no detriment to NHS patients. A charge is made. The total income earned in respect of such patients for the period 1991 to 1993 was £48,131.
There is only one ambulance service for the whole of Scotland and it has no contracts with any private health care provider.