Ambulance Services

Culture Media and Sport written question – answered at on 22 July 2014.

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Photo of Tom Watson Tom Watson Labour, West Bromwich East

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met Dr Anthony Marsh in the last three years; what the purpose was of such meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Jane Ellison Jane Ellison The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The Minister of State (Norman Lamb) has met Dr Anthony Marsh on two occasions in the last three years to discuss the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST)—11 June 2013 and 24 January 2014.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Earl Howe) has met Dr Marsh on the following occasions in the last three years:

12 September 2012 at a meeting of the Ministerial Steering Group on Emergency Services Collaboration;

12 October 2012 at a meeting of the National Ambulance Service Network to discuss national issues;

6 November 2012 to discuss the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust;

10 April 2013 to discuss national ambulance policy and Dr Marsh's review of the governance of EEAST;

30 May 2013 during a visit to EEAST, to discuss Dr Marsh's review of the governance of EEAST;

11 June 2013 when Earl Howe hosted a meeting for local Members of Parliament to discuss EEAST. Dr Marsh was present at the meeting;

31 October 2013 to discuss national ambulance policy and issues relating to EEAST;

21 January 2014 to discuss winter pressures on ambulance performance nationally, and to provide an update on EEAST actions;

11 February 2014 to discuss EEAST performance with local Members of Parliament;

8 July 2014 to discuss EEAST performance; and

17 July 2014 (via phone call) to discuss national ambulance policy.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Dr Daniel Poulter) attended EEAST's Long Service and Excellence Awards on 9 May 2014 to present awards. Dr Marsh is likely to have been present at the event.

Departmental officials are likely to have been present at the ministerial meetings. Departmental officials have also met Dr Marsh separately on the following occasions:

19 April 2013 (via phone call) to discuss EEAST;

20 November 2013 to discuss EEAST; and

30 June 2014Department of Health officials, together with Department for Communities and Local Government officials, facilitated a meeting between the Chief Fire Officers Association and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE). Dr Marsh was present at this meeting as Chair of AACE. The meeting focused on progressing co-responding between the fire service and ambulance services across the country.

Notes:

1. Archived diaries for some former Ministers cannot be accessed. The list of ministerial meetings may not therefore be comprehensive.

2. There is no official record of meetings between departmental officials and Dr Marsh. The list may not therefore be comprehensive.

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