§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Two Shires Ambulance NHS trust met its performance targets for responding to(a) Category A and (b) Category B/C emergency calls in each year since 1997; [27786]
(2) how many emergency calls were received (a) in the UK and (b) in Two Shires Ambulance NHS trust area in each year since 1997. [27787]
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§ Ms BlearsInformation about the number of emergency calls and the proportion of emergency calls resulting in an ambulance arriving at the scene of a reported incident within the Government's target response time, for both the Two Shires Ambulance national health service trust and all other ambulance trusts in England, is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2000–01". A copy is in the Library and available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0115.htm.
Following a review of standards in 1996 ambulance services were required to introduce systems to prioritise emergency calls. Two Shires Ambulance NHS trust moved to the new system from 1 April 1998. In 1998–99 and each year since then Two Shires has met and exceeded the target for Category B calls—95 per cent. within 19 minutes (rural service target).
On Category A calls the trust has been making steady progress towards the target of 75 per cent. within eight minutes. Details of performance are in the statistical bulletin.
The Two Shires Ambulance NHS trust is expected to achieve the 75 per cent. target for Category A this year.