Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ambulance trusts are trialling the assessment of 999 callers by Skype video link.
The appropriate use of technology in the response to 999 calls is a matter for local National Health Service ambulance trusts, and this is not centrally monitored.
It is vital that 999 callers receive the most appropriate clinical response, when they need it. We are advised that South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust has been openly testing technology which enables clinicians to see and talk to responders and patients in appropriate situations, to triage patients better and organise the help that they need. This is not in place of sending an appropriate ambulance response.