The BBC reports that its investigation has found that lives are at risk because patients are facing unacceptably long waits for a 999 response.
Average waits for emergency callouts for problems such as heart attacks and strokes are taking nearly three times as long as they should in England. Targets are being missed in the rest of UK too, with some seriously-ill waiting up to nine hours for an ambulance.
There are numerous investigations ongoing into deaths linked to delays. The problems have forced all ambulance services to be put on their highest levels of alert – meaning patients who can make their own way to hospital are told to do so. A number of services have also brought in the military to support crews.
Full story BBC News, 11 November 2021