Patients Forum to give evidence to the London Assembly on the London Ambulance Service

Tomorrow morning the London Ambulance Service Patients Forum, represented by its Vice Chair, Malcolm Alexander, will give evidence to the Health and Public Services Committee of the London Assembly. At Monday night's Forum meeting, the Chair of the committee, said that he hoped that the Forum would become "the eyes and ears of the London Assembly" regarding the LAS.The meeting begins at 10am in the Chamber at City Hall.



We expect the following topics to be discussed:

Performance

• Performance against response time targets

• Action taken to address Category B performance

• How to improve patient outcomes



Commissioning / NHS reforms

• Risks and opportunities of GP commissioning

• How to incentivise GPs to reduce 999 calls in their area

• Potential role for the Mayor in commissioning

• How to develop London-wide strategies after NHS London is abolished

• Risks and opportunities of move to Foundation Trust Status



Demand

• Why are 999 calls increasing, and how to reduce them

• Relationship between emergency services (how to reduce calls coming from the police)

• How to develop community services the relieve the burden on the LAS



Patient Transport

• The future role of the LAS in PTS

• Potential for integration with other door-to-door services

I will be celebrating St Patrick's Day in France and will be away for a few days.