§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what central Government targets have been set for ambulance services; and what assessment has been made of whether they are being met. [78097]
§ Jacqui SmithAmbulance National Health Service trusts are aiming to respond to 75 per cent. of category A calls within eight minutes. All other emergency calls that are not life threatening should be responded to 95 per cent. of the time within 14 minutes in urban areas and 19 minutes in rural areas.
Information about ambulance services response times to emergency calls are collected each year by the Department and published annually. The latest information is contained in the Department of Health statistical bulletin Ambulance Services, England 2001–02. A copy is available in the Library and also on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/5b0115.htm.