Lib Dems Caution Government over Changes to Ambulance Service

8.24.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 11th Dec 2007

Changes must not be made simply to cut costs

Ambulance unions and some doctors fear plans for vehicles manned by one person to answer more 999 calls in England could put patients at risk. Some staff say 'solo-responders' are not always appropriate and that it is a bid to get the service on the cheap.

From next April, the 10 ambulance trusts in England will have to respond to three quarters of the most serious emergencies within eight minutes from the point the call is answered.

Lib Dem Shadow Secretary for Health Norman Lamb comments "Measured use of solo-responder ambulances is clearly a sensible approach to ensure a quick reaction in some situations, but it cannot be done on the cheap and must not be used simply to cut costs or hit targets. There are also serious concerns that tighter targets on response times could distort priorities, with trusts focusing on urban areas and neglecting rural ones. We have to be sure that any changes to the service are not made simply because ambulance trusts are being stretched financially."