§ Mrs. BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors led him to implement criteria-based dispatch systems in the ambulance service in areas where the present Orcon standards are not being met. [28859]
§ Mr. MilburnOur aim is to improve standards across the board within the framework set by the White Paper "The New NHS". Local ambulance services and health authorities must work together and reach agreement on when to implement priority dispatch systems, taking account of relevant factors, including performance against ORCON standards.