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 electrify all UK ambulances within 15 years.

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

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

The MoS can likewise expose there are currently just 2 electric-powered ambulances getting travelers in England – compared to more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

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

The current electrical ambulances have a variety of approximately 200 miles, but paramedic crews in rural areas frequently take a trip even more in a shift.

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

Last night Nick Timothy MP, former chief of staff to ex-prime minister Theresa May, said: ‘Ambulance services have been struggling to fulfill their action targets. With these obstacles it is absurd to distract NHS employees from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.

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

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

‘Time, planning and expenditure are going into purchasing electrical cars and developing battery chargers – a number of which will never ever be installed – rather of enhancing response times.

‘Much more worrying is the difficulty of updating the grid in time to satisfy the extra demand.

‘This is yet another case of environment policy racing ahead of innovation with stunning outcomes for clients and taxpayers.’

England’s very first electric ambulance began operating in the West Midlands in 2020. Another 8 will be delivered this year to be used in city locations such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: per cent of our location is generally rural and this continues to be the greatest consider our relocate to electrical – having the variety to run in areas where automobiles 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 transport travelers. Another eight will be delivered to the service this year.

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

The NHS stated: ‘It is right we seek sustainable options when they enhance patient care and save the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not impact reaction times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel costs.’

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