London Ambulance Service (Hansard, 17 October 1994)

§ Mr. Spearing
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place, following the inquiry into the future performance and administration of the London ambulance service, for a standing procedure for consultation with staff concerning the operation and administration of the London ambulance service.
129W

§ Mr. Sackville
This is a matter for the management of the London ambulance service.

§ Mr. Spearing
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of occasions in each week of each month from January to August when the response time of emergency ambulances of the London ambulance service exceeded(a) 34 minutes and (b) 45 minutes; and what steps have been taken by her appointees to the South Thames regional health authority to monitor the causes.

§ Mr. Sackville
The information requested is shown in the table.
South Thames regional health authority has, through its London ambulance service committee, monitored response times of emergency ambulances exceeding 34 minutes and analysed the underlying causes. The committee has found that the primary causes are the current patterns of crew deployed and shifts which lead to a reduced number of vehicles available at times of peak demand. A further study into these problems has been commissioned. In addition, an extra 240 ambulance staff have been recruited and trained and are now being deployed. South Thames regional health authority will continue to monitor the results of the study to ensure progress is made against patients charter's standards.

Number of calls with response time more than

Week ending 34 minutes 45 minutes No of calls responded to

9 January 1994 113 30 9,691

16 January 1994 61 17 9,412

23 January 1994 62 12 9,284

30 January 1994 94 24 9,277

6 February 1994 83 21 9,801

13 February 1994 70 17 9,674

20 February 1994 219 94 9,767

27 February 1994 114 38 9,556

6 March 1994 134 34 9,549

13 March 1994 85 24 9,635

20 March 1994 128 35 10,025

.27 March 1994 155 55 9,920

3 April 1994 108 26 9,491

10 April 1994 165 68 9,458

17 April 1994 133 37 9,585

24 April 1994 118 27 9,679

1 May 1994 164 51 10,097

8 May 1994 109 41 9,669

15 May 1994 176 39 10,334

22 May 1994 113 22 9,890

29 May 1994 153 54 10,297

5 June 1994 200 63 10,057

12 June 1994 118 31 10,220

19 June 1994 330 131 10,721

26 June 1994 306 113 10,738

3 July 1994 278 94 10,588

10 July 1994 165 51 10,066

17 July 1994 239 72 10,913

24 July 1994 123 32 10,696

31 July 1994 224 72 10,838

7 August 1994 234 92 10,458

14 August 1994 94 22 9,552

21 August 1994 132 33 10,162

28 August 1994 109 32 9,770

Source:
London Ambulance Service internal statistics

Number of calls with response time more than
Week ending	34 minutes	45 minutes	No of calls responded to
9 January 1994	113	30	9,691
16 January 1994	61	17	9,412
23 January 1994	62	12	9,284
30 January 1994	94	24	9,277
6 February 1994	83	21	9,801
13 February 1994	70	17	9,674
20 February 1994	219	94	9,767
27 February 1994	114	38	9,556
6 March 1994	134	34	9,549
13 March 1994	85	24	9,635
20 March 1994	128	35	10,025
.27 March 1994	155	55	9,920
3 April 1994	108	26	9,491
10 April 1994	165	68	9,458
17 April 1994	133	37	9,585
24 April 1994	118	27	9,679
1 May 1994	164	51	10,097
8 May 1994	109	41	9,669
15 May 1994	176	39	10,334
22 May 1994	113	22	9,890
29 May 1994	153	54	10,297
5 June 1994	200	63	10,057
12 June 1994	118	31	10,220
19 June 1994	330	131	10,721
26 June 1994	306	113	10,738
3 July 1994	278	94	10,588
10 July 1994	165	51	10,066
17 July 1994	239	72	10,913
24 July 1994	123	32	10,696
31 July 1994	224	72	10,838
7 August 1994	234	92	10,458
14 August 1994	94	22	9,552
21 August 1994	132	33	10,162
28 August 1994	109	32	9,770