Health Secretary Wes Streeting faced calls last night to ditch the 'absurd' Net Zero plan to amaze all UK ambulances within 15 years.

The cash-strapped NHS is preparing to abandon all its diesel ambulances and install practically 5,000 charging points at healthcare facilities and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered cars.

Health chiefs have refused to reveal how much the new ambulances will cost, however main figures seen by the Mail on Sunday expose it will cost ₤ 100million simply to upgrade the grid and electrical facilities needed for charging points.

The MoS can also expose there are presently simply 2 electric-powered ambulances selecting up passengers in England - compared to more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electric emergency situation automobiles for paramedics, consisting of 2 cars and trucks, 16 response vans and three motorbikes.

The most recent electric ambulances have a range of up to 200 miles, but paramedic crews in rural locations frequently take a trip further in a shift.

Latest figures reveal the average response time in England for the most lethal 'category-one' ambulance calls is seven minutes and 52 seconds - compared to an NHS target of 7 minutes.

Last night Nick Timothy MP, previous chief of staff to ex-prime minister Theresa May, said: 'Ambulance services have been struggling to satisfy their reaction targets. With these challenges it is unreasonable to distract NHS workers from their tasks with impractical Net Zero targets.

West Midlands Ambulance service launched the very first totally electric emergency situation ambulance 2020

Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'ridiculous' plan to electrify all UK ambulances

'Time, planning and cost are going into buying electrical cars and developing chargers - a lot of which will never be set up - instead of improving action times.

'Much more concerning is the difficulty of updating the grid in time to fulfill the additional need.

'This is yet another case of environment policy racing ahead of innovation with shocking outcomes for patients and taxpayers.'

England's first electric ambulance began operating in the West Midlands in 2020. Another eight will be delivered this year to be used in city locations such as .

West Midlands Ambulance Service stated: 'Seventy per cent of our location is generally rural and this continues to be the most significant element in our move to electrical - having the variety to run in locations where vehicles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'

East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling three electrical ambulances given that 2023, but has actually not utilized them to transport passengers. Another 8 will be provided to the service this year.

The Department of Health said: 'New electrical ambulances will save the NHS ₤ 59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.'

The NHS said: 'It is right we seek sustainable alternatives when they enhance client care and save the taxpayer cash. Electric ambulances will not impact action times, [and] are cutting emissions, upkeep and fuel expenses.'

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