To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue new guidance on reducing sickness levels among vulnerable groups during high temperatures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue new guidance on reducing sickness levels among vulnerable groups during high temperatures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help ensure that information on the importance of hydration in hot weather is communicated to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help ensure that information on the importance of hydration in hot weather is communicated to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time for an ambulance was during the Level 4 heatwave alert on (a) 18 July and (b) 19 July 2022.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time for an ambulance was during the Level 4 heatwave alert on (a) 18 July and (b) 19 July 2022.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has advised for elective procedures to be halted over periods of extreme heat to ensure that there is sufficient bed capacity for people who are medically unwell as a result of the heat.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has advised for elective procedures to be halted over periods of extreme heat to ensure that there is sufficient bed capacity for people who are medically unwell as a result of the heat.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support his Department is providing to NHS ambulance services during extreme heat in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support his Department is providing to NHS ambulance services during extreme heat in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is providing to (a) ambulance crews and (b) other NHS staff who are (i) working and (ii) working in full personal protective equipment during periods of extreme heat.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is providing to (a) ambulance crews and (b) other NHS staff who are (i) working and (ii) working in full personal protective equipment during periods of extreme heat.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps will be taken at emergency departments to ensure that patients are not waiting in ambulances during periods of extreme heat; and for what reason those measures are not in place permanently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps will be taken at emergency departments to ensure that patients are not waiting in ambulances during periods of extreme heat; and for what reason those measures are not in place permanently.

Urgent question on ambulance services and the declaration of a national heatwave emergency.

Urgent question on ambulance services and the declaration of a national heatwave emergency.

Our ambulance service performs heroics every single day, and I put on the record my thanks to every single one of its staff for their dedication and hard work. We have a duty to support this vital service and give it the resources it needs.

The latest figures from the NHS...

Our ambulance service performs heroics every single day, and I put on the record my thanks to every single one of its staff for their dedication and hard work. We have a duty to support this vital service and give it the resources it needs.

The latest figures from the NHS...

Can I say how disappointed I am at the shadow Secretary of State’s response? If he is not happy that a female Minister with over 20 years’ experience in the NHS is able to answer a question on NHS waiting times, I find that very disappointing.

As I said in the...

Can I say how disappointed I am at the shadow Secretary of State’s response? If he is not happy that a female Minister with over 20 years’ experience in the NHS is able to answer a question on NHS waiting times, I find that very disappointing.

As I said in the...

The hon. Gentleman shakes his head, but he stood at the Dispatch Box just now and said that Labour would do better. It is not doing better in Labour-run Wales; it actually has either similar response times or worse response times.

I have set out a plan. It is clear that...

The hon. Gentleman shakes his head, but he stood at the Dispatch Box just now and said that Labour would do better. It is not doing better in Labour-run Wales; it actually has either similar response times or worse response times.

I have set out a plan. It is clear that...

I thank my right hon. Friend, who is absolutely right, because a number of factors are influencing the wait times at A&E. While delayed discharges are not increasing, there are still a significant number of them, which means that the NHS and local authorities have to be working together. That...

I thank my right hon. Friend, who is absolutely right, because a number of factors are influencing the wait times at A&E. While delayed discharges are not increasing, there are still a significant number of them, which means that the NHS and local authorities have to be working together. That...

I say to the hon. Lady that we have put additional investment this year—over £150 million of extra funding—into ambulance services to help them meet demand, because they do have significant demand. The rates we are seeing at this time of year are the sorts of rates we would normally...

I say to the hon. Lady that we have put additional investment this year—over £150 million of extra funding—into ambulance services to help them meet demand, because they do have significant demand. The rates we are seeing at this time of year are the sorts of rates we would normally...

I thank my hon. Friend, who has been campaigning vigorously for better healthcare provision in his local area. I am very happy to meet him to discuss those plans, and I recognise that there is an urgency about that. I can reassure him that six areas of the country account...

I thank my hon. Friend, who has been campaigning vigorously for better healthcare provision in his local area. I am very happy to meet him to discuss those plans, and I recognise that there is an urgency about that. I can reassure him that six areas of the country account...

The North East Ambulance Service is one of three areas of concern in terms of performance. I reassure the hon. Member that I have met the families, and offered other families a meeting, to discuss the matter. In relation to his constituent, there is a tribunal ongoing. It is difficult...

The North East Ambulance Service is one of three areas of concern in terms of performance. I reassure the hon. Member that I have met the families, and offered other families a meeting, to discuss the matter. In relation to his constituent, there is a tribunal ongoing. It is difficult...

Yes, and I thank my right hon. Friend for raising that point. Different response times are required, depending on the reason for the call. Strokes would be a C2 emergency, for which the target is 18 minutes. The latest figures we have are from May, when we were performing better...

Yes, and I thank my right hon. Friend for raising that point. Different response times are required, depending on the reason for the call. Strokes would be a C2 emergency, for which the target is 18 minutes. The latest figures we have are from May, when we were performing better...

I am sorry that the hon. Lady did not hear my response. I specifically mentioned social care as well as the integrated care boards that we have set up to bring health and social care together—I think Labour Members voted against that. As I said, one factor affecting ambulance delays...

I am sorry that the hon. Lady did not hear my response. I specifically mentioned social care as well as the integrated care boards that we have set up to bring health and social care together—I think Labour Members voted against that. As I said, one factor affecting ambulance delays...

I am pleased that my hon. and learned Friend is already seeing the benefits of the A&E in Cheltenham staying open. He is very modest—I am sure he played a significant part in ensuring that it stayed open. This is absolutely about capacity and there is no magic bullet that...

I am pleased that my hon. and learned Friend is already seeing the benefits of the A&E in Cheltenham staying open. He is very modest—I am sure he played a significant part in ensuring that it stayed open. This is absolutely about capacity and there is no magic bullet that...

I am sorry to hear about the sad death of the hon. Member’s constituent. Her region is one of the six areas that have the worst handover times and at which we are targeting support. I would be happy to meet her and update her on the specific support that...

I am sorry to hear about the sad death of the hon. Member’s constituent. Her region is one of the six areas that have the worst handover times and at which we are targeting support. I would be happy to meet her and update her on the specific support that...

When we look at our figures, of course we look month on month, but we also compare them with previous years. As I said in my opening remarks, we are seeing an increase in calls—over 100,000 more compared with May 2019. The hon. Member shakes his head, but those are...

When we look at our figures, of course we look month on month, but we also compare them with previous years. As I said in my opening remarks, we are seeing an increase in calls—over 100,000 more compared with May 2019. The hon. Member shakes his head, but those are...