Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has plans to ensure that (a) all ambulances carry the same equipment and medicines and (b) the procedures employed by paramedics are the same in all ambulance trusts.
Clinical equipment, medicines and practices of paramedics are operational matters for National Health Service ambulance trusts. However, the Ambulance Improvement Programme is currently reviewing operational delivery and configuration across ambulance trusts with a view to reducing unwarranted variation and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of ambulance services across England.
North West Ambulance Service has advised that as of October 2017:
- It would consider the clinical and cost effectiveness of Ondansetron and IV Paracetamol;
- It was not considering the introduction of Dexamethasone but would keep this under review; and
- It offers a transcutaneous pacing service.