Ambulance service invests millions to meet new targets

11:48am Thursday 3rd April 2008

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A NEW national measurement of ambulance response times has been introduced in a bid to assure the public that 999 calls will be responded to quicker.

As of this month, ambulance response times will be measured from the point when a 999 caller is connected to the ambulance control room - instead of after a series of details have been obtained from the caller.

health chiefs say the changes will reflect response times more accurately and will enable patients to judge whether help has arrived within the eight minute target.

The new method of working also means ambulance service staff have to answer 95 per cent of 999 calls within five seconds.

The North West Ambulance Service, which covers Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside and receives around 750,000 calls a year, has invested £6.5million in order to meet the new targets - including more than 200 new staff, 20 new vehicles and ambulances and money bringing its control rooms up to date.

Deputy chief executive of NWAS Bob Williams, said: "These changes are all about improving the service to patients and in particular those with the greatest need. NWAS has been working hard to implement the investments in order to ensure patients get the best possible service. The use of better technology and additional workforce and resources will enable us to provide the critical 999 service to the public in a more responsive manner".