Tomorrow, on Wednesday 29 April, the House of
Lords Public Services Committee will take evidence from
MP, Minister of State for
Health (Secondary Care), Department of Health and Social
Care (DHSC) as it concludes evidence sessions in its
inquiry examining how ambulance services can best support A&E
capacity.
The session will focus on the role of ambulance services,
ambulance service and urgent and emergency care commissioning,
and potential reforms to improve ambulance service capability and
productivity.
This meeting of the Committee is to be chaired by .
The session will start at 11:00am and can be watched live
or on demand at Parliament
TV or heard in person in Committee Room 2, Palace
of Westminster.
Giving evidence alongside the Minister will be:
-
Sarah-Jane Marsh, National Director of Urgent
and Emergency Care, NHS England; and
-
Dr Fenella Wrigley MBE, National Medical
Advisor for Ambulances, NHS England.
Questions will include:
- How would you define the role of ambulance services within
the urgent and emergency care system currently, and what do you
consider to be their optimal role?
- How do NHS policy, priorities, targets and performance
measures align with your conception of, and vision for, the role
of the ambulance service?
- Can you explain the commissioning framework for urgent and
emergency care, and how more accessible and consistent
alternative care can be achieved within and between ambulance
service areas?
- Can you explain the Government's work and aims in the areas
of ongoing reforms in respect of ambulance service commissioning,
including contract and funding reform and scope for ambulance
commissioning to transfer to the offices for pan-ICB
commissioning?
- How often are major incident preparedness exercises
undertaken in emergency departments? How resilient and prepared
is the system?
