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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 strategy to energize all UK ambulances within 15 years.

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

Health chiefs have refused to expose 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 needed for charging points.

The MoS can also reveal there are currently simply two electric-powered ambulances selecting up passengers in England – compared with more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electric emergency vehicles for paramedics, consisting of 2 automobiles, 16 reaction vans and three motorbikes.

The current electric ambulances have a series of up to 200 miles, however paramedic crews in backwoods frequently take a trip even more in a shift.

Latest figures show the average response time in England for the most deadly ’category-one’ ambulance calls is 7 minutes and 52 seconds – compared to an NHS target of 7 minutes.

Last night Nick Timothy MP, former chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, stated: ’Ambulance services have been struggling to satisfy their action targets. With these obstacles it is unreasonable to distract NHS workers from their jobs with impractical Net Zero targets.

West Midlands Ambulance service released the first totally electric emergency ambulance 2020

Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the ’ridiculous’ plan to amaze all UK ambulances

’Time, preparation and cost are going into purchasing electrical automobiles and developing chargers – a number of which will never be set up – rather of times.

’A lot more worrying is the obstacle of updating the grid in time to meet the additional need.

’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 started operating in the West Midlands in 2020. Another eight will be provided this year to be utilized in city areas such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service stated: ’Seventy percent of our area is primarily rural and this continues to be the biggest consider our transfer 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 because 2023, however has not utilized them to carry travelers. Another 8 will be provided to the service this year.

The Department of Health stated: ’New electric 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 conserve the taxpayer cash. Electric ambulances will not impact action times, [and] are cutting emissions, maintenance and fuel expenses.’

Theresa MayWes StreetingNHS