§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measure her Department is taking to reduce the number of non-urgent 999 telephone calls.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe new patients charter, launched on 18 January, advises the public on how they can help the national health service by remembering that the emergency ambulance service is there for people in the most urgent need of hospital treatment. Improvements in primary care should reduce the incidence of non-urgent calls. Further action is best taken by local initiatives.