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Wes Streeting Urged to Ditch Bid to Electrify all UK Ambulances
Health Secretary Wes Streeting faced 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 set up practically 5,000 charging points at medical facilities and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered lorries.
Health chiefs have declined to reveal just how much the new ambulances will cost, but seen by the Mail on Sunday reveal it will cost ₤ 100million simply to update the grid and electrical facilities required for charging points.
The MoS can likewise expose there are currently simply two electric-powered ambulances picking up travelers in England – compared with more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.
There are 160 other electrical emergency lorries for paramedics, consisting of two cars, 16 action vans and three motorbikes.
The most recent electric ambulances have a series of up to 200 miles, but paramedic crews in backwoods often travel even more in a shift.
Latest figures show the typical reaction time in England for the most life-threatening ‘category-one’ ambulance calls is 7 minutes and 52 seconds – compared to 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 actually been struggling to meet their action targets. With these challenges it is unreasonable to distract NHS employees from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.
West Midlands Ambulance service launched the first totally electric emergency situation ambulance 2020
Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the ‘unreasonable’ strategy to amaze all UK ambulances
‘Time, preparation and expense are going into purchasing electrical vehicles and building battery chargers – a lot of which will never be set up – instead of improving reaction times.
‘Much more worrying is the challenge of updating the grid in time to satisfy the extra demand.
‘This is yet another case of environment policy racing ahead of innovation with shocking outcomes for clients and taxpayers.’
England’s first electrical ambulance started running in the West Midlands in 2020. Another 8 will be delivered this year to be utilized in metropolitan locations such as Birmingham.
West Midlands Ambulance Service stated: ‘Seventy percent of our location is generally rural and this continues to be the most significant factor in our relocate to electrical – having the range to operate in locations where vehicles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.’
East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling three electrical ambulances since 2023, however has actually not utilized them to transport travelers. Another 8 will be provided 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 look for sustainable alternatives when they improve patient care and conserve the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not affect action times, [and] are cutting emissions, maintenance and fuel costs.’
Theresa MayWes StreetingNHS