Wes Streeting Urged to Ditch Bid to Electrify all UK Ambulances

Health Secretary Wes calls last night to ditch the 'absurd' Net Zero strategy to electrify all UK ambulances within 15 years.

The cash-strapped NHS is preparing to abandon all its diesel ambulances and install practically 5,000 charging points at healthcare facilities and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered automobiles.

Health chiefs have declined to expose just how much the new ambulances will cost, however main figures seen by the Mail on Sunday expose it will cost ₤ 100million simply to update the grid and electrical facilities required for charging points.

The MoS can likewise reveal there are currently simply 2 electric-powered ambulances getting guests in England - compared with more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electric emergency lorries for paramedics, including two cars, 16 response vans and 3 motorcycles.

The most current electric ambulances have a series of up to 200 miles, but paramedic crews in backwoods typically travel even more in a shift.

Latest figures reveal the average response time in England for the most lethal 'category-one' ambulance calls is seven minutes and 52 seconds - compared with an NHS target of 7 minutes.

Last night Nick Timothy MP, previous chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, said: 'Ambulance services have actually been having a hard time to fulfill their reaction targets. With these obstacles it is absurd to distract NHS workers from their jobs with impractical Net Zero targets.

West Midlands Ambulance service launched the first completely electrical emergency situation ambulance 2020

Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'unreasonable' plan to electrify all UK ambulances

'Time, planning and expenditure are entering into purchasing electric automobiles and building chargers - a number of which will never be set up - instead of enhancing reaction times.

'Even more concerning is the obstacle of updating the grid in time to satisfy the extra need.

'This is yet another case of environment policy racing ahead of innovation with shocking outcomes for patients and taxpayers.'

England's first electrical ambulance began running in the West Midlands in 2020. Another 8 will be delivered this year to be used in metropolitan locations such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'Seventy per cent of our area is generally rural and this continues to be the greatest consider our relocate to electric - having the range to operate in areas where lorries can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'