Ambulance trusts getting closer to response time target, says NHS

Ambulance trusts in England are closing in on the national target for responding to emergencies, according to new figures.

The NHS Information Centre revealed that seven of the 12 trusts hit or surpassed the emergency (Category A) target, which requires 75 per cent of calls to be reached by an emergency response vehicle within eight minutes, in 2010-11.

Although this level is the same as the previous year, the national average has risen from 74.3 per cent to 74.9 per cent.

Tim Straughan, chief executive of the NHS Information Centre, said England's ambulance trusts are now dealing with more than eight million calls each year.

"Despite the increased workload, trusts are moving closer to achieving the target for being on the scene of the most serious incidents within eight minutes," he added.

The South Central Ambulance Service was shown to be the nation's best in terms of response times, with a Category A response rate of 77.5 per cent.

Formed by the merger of four ambulance trusts in 2006, it covers the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire.