Health Secretary Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'absurd' Net Zero strategy 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 healthcare facilities and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered automobiles.
Health chiefs have declined to reveal just how much the new ambulances will cost, however seen by the Mail on Sunday expose it will cost ₤ 100million just to upgrade the grid and electrical facilities required for charging points.
The MoS can also reveal there are presently just two electric-powered ambulances picking up guests in England - compared with more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.
There are 160 other electrical emergency cars for paramedics, consisting of two cars, 16 response vans and three motorbikes.
The most recent electrical ambulances have a variety of approximately 200 miles, but paramedic crews in rural areas typically take a trip further in a shift.
Latest figures show the typical action time in England for the most dangerous 'category-one' ambulance calls is 7 minutes and 52 seconds - compared with an NHS target of seven minutes.
Last night Nick Timothy MP, previous chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, said: 'Ambulance services have actually been struggling to satisfy their action targets. With these obstacles it is absurd to distract NHS workers from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.
West Midlands Ambulance service launched the first completely electric emergency ambulance 2020
Wes Streeting faced calls last night to ditch the 'unreasonable' strategy to amaze all UK ambulances
'Time, planning and cost are going into buying electrical lorries and building battery chargers - much of which will never be installed - instead of enhancing action times.
'Even more worrying is the obstacle of updating 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 eight will be provided this year to be utilized in city locations such as Birmingham.
West Midlands Ambulance Service stated: 'Seventy percent of our location is mainly rural and this continues to be the greatest consider our transfer to electrical - having the range to operate in areas where lorries can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'
East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling 3 electrical ambulances because 2023, however has actually not utilized them to carry travelers. Another 8 will be provided to the service this year.
The Department of Health stated: 'New electrical ambulances will save the NHS ₤ 59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.'
The NHS stated: 'It is right we seek sustainable alternatives when they improve client care and save the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not impact action times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel costs.'
Theresa MayWes StreetingNHS