London Ambulance Service Misses Target

1 February 2013, 11:30 | Updated: 1 February 2013, 11:33

The London Ambulance Service is failing to meet its target for reaching critically ill patients within eight minutes of a 999 call.

Official figures show more than a quarter of people with severe conditions like heart attacks are having to wait longer than expected for treatment by paramedics.

The service was under severe pressure in December,  with figures showing it missed its target of reaching three quarters of patients most in need within the target time of eight minutes.

In the 7 months between April and October last year, on average the service did achieve its targets,  leading critics to argue its now struggling in the face of cuts to its budget.

But overall last month, 95% of patients with critical or serious conditions were reached by an ambulance within 19 minutes of the request for transport being made.