Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress has been made on improving response times in line with the Government’s improved ambulance performance framework of July 2017.

Following an independent evaluation of extensive trials, the Government agreed NHS England’s recommendation to implement an improved ambulance performance framework in July 2017. All mainland ambulance services adopted the new standards by November 2017.

The framework prioritises responses to the sickest patients while helping reduce long waits for ambulance responses, and ensures patients receive the response that they need the first time. Ambulance services are performing well as they adapt to the new system, and are demonstrating improving performance across the board on all measures.

NHS England and NHS Improvement continue to support the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to adapt to the new framework, including the review of staff rotas and vehicle fleets to include more double crewed ambulances which has resulted in increase in staff in some areas. The Trust is also working with local commissioners to create a joint plan to support improvements in performance and ensure adequate resources to deliver against the standards.