HC Deb 19 September 2002 vol 390 c362W
Mrs. Lait

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which ambulance trusts train their ambulance staff in obstetrics and gynaecological care. [70729]

Mr. Lammy

Qualified emergency ambulance staff in every ambulance trust are trained to a national curriculum and operate to national clinical guidelines that include the management of obstetric and gynaecological care.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to introduce the provision of stab- and bullet-proof vests to ambulance services outside London. [71080]

Mr. Lammy

[holding answer 18 July 20021: There are no national plans to introduce the provision of light-weight anti-stab vests or bullet-proof vests for frontline ambulance personnel. The use of anti-stab vests or bullet-proof vests is something local managers in ambulance trusts need to consider after undertaking a thorough assessment of the risk faced by their staff, and the need for this type of protective wear.

The London Ambulance National Health Service Trust has recently piloted the use of anti-stab vests at two ambulance stations. The evaluation of the pilots was positive, and this information is being shared with all other NHS ambulance trusts.

Andrew Selous

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths resulted from the failure of ambulances to arrive at their destinations on 17 and 18 July(a) this year and (b) 2001. [73026]

Mr. Lammy

This information is not collected.

All ambulance services will always reach the scene of an emergency call, although different traffic conditions will have an impact on the response time.