Wes Streeting Urged to Ditch Bid to Electrify all UK Ambulances

Health Secretary Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the ‘ridiculous’ Net Zero plan to amaze all UK ambulances within 15 years.

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

Health chiefs have actually refused to expose how much the brand-new ambulances will cost, however main figures seen by the Mail on Sunday reveal it will cost ₤ 100million just to upgrade the grid and electrical infrastructure required for charging points.

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

There are 160 other electrical emergency situation lorries for paramedics, consisting of two automobiles, 16 response vans and three motorbikes.

The newest electric ambulances have a variety of as much as 200 miles, but paramedic crews in backwoods frequently take a trip even more in a shift.

Latest figures reveal the average reaction time in England for the most life-threatening ‘category-one’ ambulance calls is seven minutes and 52 seconds – compared to an NHS target of 7 minutes.

Last night Nick Timothy MP, former chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, said: ‘Ambulance services have been having a hard time to satisfy their reaction targets. With these challenges it is ridiculous to sidetrack NHS employees from their jobs with impractical Net Zero targets.

West Midlands Ambulance service introduced the very first fully electrical emergency ambulance 2020

Wes Streeting faced calls last night to ditch the ‘ridiculous’ plan to amaze all UK ambulances

‘Time, preparation and expense are going into purchasing electrical lorries and constructing battery chargers – a lot of which will never be installed – rather of improving reaction times.

‘Even more concerning is the obstacle of updating the grid in time to fulfill the extra need.

‘This is yet another case of climate policy racing ahead of innovation with shocking results for patients and taxpayers.’

England’s first electrical ambulance began operating in the West Midlands in 2020. Another eight will be delivered this year to be utilized in urban areas such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ‘Seventy percent of our area is mainly rural and this continues to be the most significant consider our relocate to electric – having the range to run in locations where vehicles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.’

East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling 3 electrical ambulances given that 2023, but has not used them to carry travelers. Another eight will be provided to the service this year.

The Department of Health stated: ‘New electric ambulances will conserve the NHS ₤ 59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.’

The NHS said: ‘It is right we look for sustainable alternatives when they improve client care and save the taxpayer cash. Electric ambulances will not impact reaction times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel expenses.’

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