Dr. Tony WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulance services are currently meeting the standard that life threatening emergencies receive a response in less than eight minutes on 75 per cent. of all occasions; and if he will list those services which currently(a) meet, and (b) fail to meet this standard. [53076]
§ Mr. BoatengAt present ambulance services are expected to reach 95 per cent. of all emergency calls within 14 minutes (urban services) and 19 minutes (rural services). In 1997–98 27 out of 37 ambulance services in England reached this standard. Full details are in the Departmental publication,Ambulance Services, England 1997–98, copies of which are available in the Library.
By the year 2000–01 ambulance services in England will also be expected to reach 75 per cent. of life-threatening calls within eight minutes. In 1997–98 only Staffordshire Ambulance Service achieved this standard.