HC Deb 25 November 1996 vol 286 cc94-5W
Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the recommended ambulance response times to(a) urban localities and (b) rural localities in each health trust area. [5155]

Mr. Moss

The recommended ambulance response times as per charter standards are based on population densities. Based on this criteria, the Eastern board area is classified as rural so that 50 per cent. of emergency calls should be answered within eight minutes and 95 per cent. within 18 minutes. The other three board areas are classified as separately populated, so that 50 per cent. of emergency calls should be answered within eight minutes and 95 per cent. within 21 minutes. According to those criteria, there are deemed to be no urban areas in Northern Ireland. There is no breakdown for each health trust area.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the health trust areas that have failed to meet recommended ambulance response times in each of the past five years. [5156]

Mr. Moss

Unfortunately, the information is not available in the format requested. As response times are collected on a health board basis, the information cannot be provided on a trust by trust basis.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the percentage of total ambulance call-outs in each health trust area in each of the past five years which were(a) within and (b) outside recommended response times. [5159]

Mr. Moss

Unfortunately, the information is not available in the format requested. As response times are collected on a health board basis, the information cannot be provided by health trust areas. However, in all board areas, 50 per cent. of emergency calls were answered within the eight minutes Orcon target. The following boards failed to meet the 95 per cent. target over the past five years:

However, the table lists the health board areas in which the recommended response times have not been met in the last five years:

Year Board area Performance target 95 per cent. Calls met per cent.
1991–92 Southern 21 minutes 91.4
Western 21 minutes 92.6
1992–93 Eastern 18 minutes 94.8
Northern 21 minutes 94.9
1993–94 Eastern 18 minutes 93.5
1994–95 Eastern 18 minutes 94.8
Southern 21 minutes 94.7
1995–96 All targets met

The recommended ambulance response times as per charter standards are based on population densities. Based on this criteria, EHSSB is classified as rural, i.e. emergency calls per cent. within 8 minutes, 95 per cent. within 18 minutes. The other three smaller Boards are classified as sparsely populated i.e. emergency calls 50 per cent. within 8 minutes, 95 per cent. within 21 minutes.