Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'ridiculous' Net Zero strategy to electrify 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 health centers and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered vehicles.

Health chiefs have refused to expose just how much the new ambulances will cost, however official figures seen by the Mail on Sunday reveal it will cost ₤ 100million simply to upgrade the grid and electrical facilities needed for charging points.

The MoS can also expose there are presently just 2 electric-powered ambulances getting passengers in England - compared to more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electric emergency situation vehicles for paramedics, consisting of 2 cars and trucks, 16 reaction vans and 3 motorcycles.

The most recent electrical ambulances have a range of approximately 200 miles, but paramedic crews in backwoods typically take a trip even more in a shift.

Latest figures show the average action time in England for the most lethal 'category-one' ambulance calls is seven minutes and 52 seconds - compared to an NHS target of seven minutes.

Last night Nick Timothy MP, previous chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, stated: 'Ambulance services have actually been struggling to fulfill their action targets. With these challenges it is absurd to sidetrack NHS employees from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.

West Midlands Ambulance service launched the very first fully electric emergency ambulance 2020

Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'unreasonable' strategy to amaze all UK ambulances

'Time, preparation and expenditure are entering into buying electric cars and constructing battery chargers - a lot of which will never ever be set up - instead of improving action times.

'A lot more worrying is the challenge of updating the grid in time to fulfill the extra need.

'This is yet another case of climate policy racing ahead of technology with stunning outcomes for patients and taxpayers.'

England's very first electrical ambulance began operating in the West Midlands in 2020. Another eight will be delivered this year to be used in metropolitan locations such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service stated: 'Seventy per cent of our area is mainly rural and this continues to be the biggest factor in our transfer to electrical - having the range to run in locations where vehicles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'

East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling 3 electric ambulances since 2023, however has actually not used them to carry travelers. Another 8 will be provided to the service this year.

The Department of Health stated: 'New electrical ambulances will conserve the NHS ₤ 59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.'

The NHS said: 'It is right we seek sustainable options when they improve client care and conserve the taxpayer money. Electric ambulances will not impact action times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel costs.'

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