Wes Streeting Urged to Ditch Bid to Electrify all UK Ambulances

Health Secretary Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'unreasonable' Net Zero strategy to amaze all UK ambulances within 15 years.

The cash-strapped NHS is preparing to desert all its diesel ambulances and set up nearly 5,000 charging points at health centers and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered automobiles.

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

The MoS can likewise reveal there are currently simply 2 electric-powered ambulances picking up passengers in England - compared to more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electrical emergency situation automobiles for paramedics, consisting of two cars, 16 action vans and three motorcycles.

The most recent have a variety of up to 200 miles, but paramedic teams in backwoods typically travel further in a shift.

Latest figures reveal the average action 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 staff to ex-prime minister Theresa May, said: 'Ambulance services have been having a hard time to fulfill their response targets. With these difficulties it is ridiculous to sidetrack NHS workers from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.

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

Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'absurd' strategy to electrify all UK ambulances

'Time, planning and expense are going into purchasing electric vehicles and developing battery chargers - numerous of which will never ever be set up - rather of enhancing action times.

'Even more worrying is the difficulty of upgrading the grid in time to meet the additional demand.

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

England's first electric ambulance started running in the West Midlands in 2020. Another eight will be provided this year to be utilized in urban locations such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'Seventy percent of our location is mainly rural and this continues to be the most significant consider our relocation to electric - having the variety to operate in areas where automobiles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'

East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling 3 electrical ambulances considering that 2023, but has not used them to transfer passengers. Another 8 will be provided to the service this year.

The Department of Health said: 'New electric 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 enhance patient care and save the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not impact action times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel expenses.'

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