Ambulance response times worst on record as A&E waits hit new highs

Data for England shows huge pressures across NHS from emergency callouts to admissions

Ambulance response times in England were the worst on record across all major categories in December, while people waiting 12 hours or more to be admitted to A&E reached an all-time high.

The average response time for people requiring an ambulance for a stroke, severe burns or chest pain was 93 minutes, five times the operation target of 18 minutes.