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 amaze all UK ambulances within 15 years.

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

Health chiefs have actually 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 just to upgrade the grid and electrical facilities needed for charging points.

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

There are 160 other electrical emergency situation cars for paramedics, consisting of 2 vehicles, 16 response vans and 3 motorbikes.

The most current electrical ambulances have a variety of as much as 200 miles, however paramedic teams in rural locations typically take a trip further in a shift.

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

Last night Nick Timothy MP, previous chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, stated: ‘Ambulance services have been having a hard time to fulfill their action targets. With these challenges it is ridiculous to distract NHS workers from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.

West Midlands Ambulance service launched the very first fully electrical 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 entering into buying electrical vehicles and building chargers – a number of which will never ever be installed – instead of improving reaction times.

‘A lot more worrying is the difficulty of updating the grid in time to fulfill the additional need.

‘This is yet another case of climate policy racing ahead of technology with stunning results for clients and taxpayers.’

England’s very first electric ambulance started 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 stated: ‘Seventy per cent of our area is generally rural and this continues to be the most significant aspect in our transfer to electrical – having the range to run in areas where vehicles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.’

East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling 3 electric ambulances given that 2023, but has actually not used them to transport travelers. 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 said: ‘It is right we look for sustainable options when they enhance patient care and save the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not impact action times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel costs.’

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