Wes Streeting Urged to Ditch Bid to Electrify all UK Ambulances

Health Secretary Wes Streeting dealt with 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 desert all its diesel ambulances and set up almost 5,000 charging points at health centers and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered vehicles.

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

The MoS can likewise expose there are presently simply 2 electric-powered ambulances selecting up travelers in England - compared to more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electric emergency lorries for paramedics, consisting of two vehicles, 16 action vans and three motorcycles.

The most recent electric ambulances have a series of approximately 200 miles, however paramedic teams in backwoods typically take a trip further in a shift.

Latest figures reveal the typical response time in England for the most deadly '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 meet their reaction targets. With these challenges it is absurd to sidetrack NHS employees from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.

West Midlands Ambulance service introduced the very first completely electric emergency ambulance 2020

Wes Streeting faced calls last night to ditch the 'unreasonable' plan to amaze all UK ambulances

'Time, planning and expenditure are going into buying electric cars and building battery chargers - numerous of which will never be set up - rather of enhancing response times.

'Much more worrying 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 very first electrical ambulance started 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 stated: 'Seventy percent of our area is primarily rural and this continues to be the greatest consider our relocation to electrical - having the range to in locations where vehicles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'

East of England Ambulance Service has been trialling three electric ambulances given that 2023, but has not used them to transfer passengers. Another eight will be delivered to the service this year.

The Department of Health stated: 'New electrical ambulances will save the NHS ₤ 59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.'

The NHS stated: 'It is right we seek sustainable alternatives when they improve patient care and save the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not affect response times, [and] are cutting emissions, maintenance and fuel costs.'

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