§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the most recent statistical evidence on the response times of the Avon Ambulance Service; and if he will provide corresponding information for(a) one year and (b) two years ago. [154215]
§ Ms StuartThe quality of service standards for the Avon Ambulance National Health Service Trust from 1997–98 to 30 September 1999 was to respond to 50 per cent. of emergency calls within eight minutes and to 95 per cent. within 14 minutes. For urgent patient journeys the ambulance should arrive not more than 15 minutes after the agreed time in 95 per cent. of cases. The following table contains information about the percentage of responses against these targets for Avon Ambulance NHS Trust from 1997–98 to 30 September 1999.
Percentage Emergency call response Urgent patient journeys Year Within eight minutes1 Within 14 minutes2 Arrival not more than 15 minutes late3 1997–98 54.2 90.6 73.0 1998–99 53.5 92.2 71.7 1999 to 30 September 53.6 90.9 466.9 1 Target 50 per cent. 2 Target 95 per cent. 3 Target 95 per cent. 4 For full year Source:
Form KA34
Department of Health, Statistics Division SD2B
763WFollowing a review of standards in 1996 ambulance services were required to introduce systems to prioritise emergency calls. The new prioritisation procedures require that all emergency calls are classified as either immediately life threatening, Category A, or other emergency calls, Category B/C. A new standard was introduced which requires that, by the year 2001, ambulance services reach 75 per cent. of Category A calls within eight minutes. For Category B/C calls and urgent patient journeys the previous standards continue to apply. Avon Ambulance NHS Trust moved to the new system from 1 October 1999 and the following table contains information about the percentage of responses against these targets from 1 October 1999 to 31 March 2000.
Percentage 1 October 1999 to 31 March 2000 Category A emergency calls response. Within eight minutes1 51.3 Within 14 minutes2 88.3 Category B/C emergency call response Within eight minutes3 51.4 Within 14 minute4 88.0 Urgent patient journeys Arrival not more than 15 minutes late5 666.9 1 Target 75 per cent. 2 Target 50 per cent. 3 Target 50 per cent. 4 Target 95 per cent. 5 Target 95 per cent. 6 For full year Source:
Form KA34
Department of Health, Statistics Division SD2B
Further details about the performance of Avon Ambulance NHS Trust and all other ambulance trusts are contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 1999–2000". A copy is available in the Library and also available at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0014.htm.