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 install nearly 5,000 charging points at hospitals and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered automobiles.

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

The MoS can also expose there are currently just two electric-powered ambulances getting passengers in England – compared with more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electric emergency situation lorries for paramedics, consisting of 2 vehicles, 16 action vans and 3 motorbikes.

The most recent electrical ambulances have a variety of approximately 200 miles, however paramedic crews in rural locations frequently travel further in a shift.

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

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

West Midlands Ambulance service launched the first completely electrical emergency situation ambulance 2020

dealt with calls last night to ditch the ‘ridiculous’ strategy to electrify all UK ambulances

‘Time, preparation and expenditure are going into purchasing electrical lorries and building chargers – a number of which will never ever be set up – rather of improving response times.

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

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

England’s very first electric ambulance began running in the West Midlands in 2020. Another 8 will be provided this year to be used in metropolitan areas such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ‘Seventy percent of our area is generally rural and this continues to be the most significant consider our move to electrical – having the variety to operate in locations where automobiles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.’

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

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

The NHS said: ‘It is right we seek sustainable options when they improve patient care and conserve the taxpayer cash. Electric ambulances will not affect reaction times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel costs.’

Theresa MayWes StreetingNHS