Yorkshire ambulances miss response time targets

Statistics show that paramedics arrived at the scene within eight minutes in 70.8 per cent of emergency call-outs for the year ending April 2010.

The figure is a slight increase on the previous 12 months, but still means that Yorkshire Ambulance Service has fallen short of the 75 per cent Government target.

YAS admitted it was 30 seconds out on the eight minute threshold, but noted that the harsh winter weather had played its part.

The service received 710,900 emergency calls in 2009/10, up more than 80,000 on the number two years ago.

Nearly 20,000 of the emergency calls were able to be dealt with over the phone.