Ambulance crews are finding it “increasingly difficult to cope”, an audit of the service in England says.
The warning by the National Audit Office comes just two months after a BBC investigation highlighted increasing delays answering 999 calls.
The NAO said rising demand, recruitment problems and wider NHS pressures meant crews were failing to hit targets.
It comes as NHS bosses are looking at relaxing the eight-minute target for calls where it may not be necessary.
For full story see BBC News 26 January 2017