Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received over the response times targets for Category B and Category C calls; what discussions he has had with Community Health Councils over these response times; what plans he has to review the times; and if he will make a statement. [95565]
§ Ms StuartMy noble Friend the Baroness Hayman and I have recently replied to Gloucestershire Community Health Council on the subject of Category C calls and officials have written directly to a number of Community Health Councils setting out Government policy in this area.
Ambulance response times are reviewed annually and published in a Statistical Bulletin. We have asked ambulance services to submit proposals for pilot studies looking at alternative ways of dealing with less urgent non-life threatening 999 calls. Several services are already piloting such projects, however careful monitoring and evaluation is needed to ensure patients receive appropriate clinical care.