§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the performance of the Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service in 2001. [35273]
§ Yvette CooperOur objective is to save more lives by providing faster, more responsive and effective emergency ambulance services.
I am advised that Worcestershire health authority invested £893,000 last year to put extra ambulance staff at Kidderminster to ensure that the Accident and Emergency service in the Wyre Forest area continued to be as effective as before the changes to Kidderminster hospital Accident and Emergency department.
This investment, along with changes to working practices which are in line with changes made nationally in all ambulance services, have ensured that the level of emergency service provided by the Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust is among the best in the United Kingdom. Indeed, in December 2001 the trust was the second fastest service in England in responding to life-threatening calls.