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Dept of Health

Answer

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional ambulance services will be available to transport child patients to the Gloucester Royal Hospital if proposals to transfer dedicated round- the-clock children's services at the Cheltenham General Hospital go ahead. [203244] Ms Rosie Winterton: Following the "Shifting the Balance of Power" initiative, responsibility for local services now lies with the local national health service. It is now for primary care trusts (PCTs), in partnership with other NHS organisations in their area, to determine how best to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services, based on the specialised knowledge they have of the local community. However, I am informed that the Gloucestershire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has had extensive dialogue with the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in regard to the impact of the local review of children's services. Some of the proposed developments will be introduced regardless of what changes, if any, are introduced as a result of the children's services review. Areas concerned are as follows: In order to ensure that children receive prompt appropriate treatment for their condition, they will be assessed by ambulance service clinicians and transported to the most appropriate treatment centre. All ambulance service clinicians have recently received additional training for the treatment of children and the trust has invested in new equipment appropriate to the needs of children. The Gloucestershire Ambulance Service NHS Trust is working with the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to improve the equipment provided for neonates. This will include the procurement of a new incubator, which will meet the new British Standard regulations. At least one new ambulance will be purchased and staffed 365 days a year to facilitate the transfer of children, should the need arise. In addition to this, the utilisation of all ambulances will be improved.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

203244; 428 c949-50W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Children Ambulance services Health services Patients Travel Paediatrics Cheltenham Hospital Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk