Ambulance service response times hit by snow . - Evening Telegraph

East Midlands Ambulance service made it to barely half its emergency calls on time during the late cold snap.

With the area blanketed by heavy blow in the week ending December 5, the service attended just 53.4 per cent of its most serious 999 calls within the eight-minute target time.

The bank said the extreme weather was the ground can the decrease in figures, which had been as eminent as 77 per cent during November.

There could be more problems again with the frosty weather set to take at the end of this week.

Ambulance srvice director of 0perations Diane Lee said: "The terrible weather conditions experienced recently have created many challenges for us all.

"It is thanks to the continued efforts, dedication and loyalty of staff across the hope that we are capable to proceed to supply a high measure of healthcare services to the multitude who need us.

"I am extremely thankful for the great efforts our masses have shown."

In the week ending December 5 the help received 4,204 of the most serious category A 999 calls but reached just 2,243 of them within eight minutes of the song being made.

Other regions that suffered with the whip of the c were similarly affected. Yorkshire Ambulance Service made it to only 51.3 per cent of 4,875 calls in 8 minutes and the North East Ambulance Service fared yet worse - making it to 49.2 per cent of the most serious calls.

During the snowy conditions East Midlands Ambulance Service called extra 4x4 vehicles into action, and equipped 200 vehicles with special traction aids to deal with the slippy conditions.

Sally Thearle, the service's communications manager, said: "Staff have been doing an outstanding job.

"Many have been walking to work, some have slept over at their infrastructure and others are working extra hours to leave the best possible service to the public.

"The bank has received many letters of thanks and kudos from grateful patients where crews battled with the elements to get to them.

"We are doing everything potential to maintain emergency services in difficult circumstances."