Written question asked by Peter Bottomley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 February 2004. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 23 February 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission a study of the effect of time delay in summoning help on fatalities and serious injuries following road crashes. - Including figures and ref to Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, Ambulance Services, England 2002-03, in Library.

Answer: Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a study of the effect of time delay in summoning help on fatalities and serious injuries following road crashes. [154918] Ms Rosie Winterton: The Government's objective is to save more lives by providing faster, more responsive emergency ambulance services, with better trained staff; and to deliver improved patient assessment and treatment while making more use of technology. Immediately life-threatening emergency calls (Category A) should be responded to 75 per cent. of the time within eight minutes, irrespective of location. Clinical evidence shows that achievement of the 75 per cent. standard could save as many as 1,800 lives each year. 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. The latest information about ambulance performance is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England 2002-03". Copies of the bulletin have been placed in the Library.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 418 c265W; 154918
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Death Accidents Administrative delays Ambulance services Emergency services Standards Roads
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk