However, that response time is still well above the target of 18 minutes.

 MeanHowever, that response time is still well above the target of 18 minutes.

while, it took an average of 32 minutes and six seconds in January to respond to category 2 emergency calls such as heart attacks, strokes and sepsis, down sharply from one hour, 32 minutes and 54 seconds in December.

Under the new plan, which follows a pilot by the London Ambulance Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service, more clinicians will be put in ambulance control rooms.

Officials say they have identified a group of patients who will always require an immediate ambulance response – such as those experiencing strokes and heart attacks under category 2.