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

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

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

The MoS can also expose there are currently simply two electric-powered ambulances getting travelers in England - compared with more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electrical emergency vehicles for paramedics, consisting of two automobiles, 16 action vans and 3 motorbikes.

The most recent electric ambulances have a series of as much as 200 miles, but paramedic teams in backwoods often travel further in a shift.

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

Last night Nick Timothy MP, previous chief of personnel to ex-prime minister Theresa May, stated: 'Ambulance services have been struggling to fulfill their action targets. With these difficulties it is ridiculous to distract NHS employees from their jobs with impractical Net Zero targets.

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

Wes Streeting dealt with calls last night to ditch the 'absurd' strategy to energize all UK ambulances

'Time, planning and expenditure are going into purchasing electrical vehicles and constructing chargers - numerous of which will never ever be set up - rather of improving action times.

'Even more concerning is the difficulty of upgrading the grid in time to fulfill the additional demand.

'This is yet another case of climate policy racing ahead of innovation with stunning outcomes for clients and taxpayers.'

England's very first electric ambulance started running in the West Midlands in 2020. Another 8 will be delivered this year to be utilized in metropolitan areas such as Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service stated: 'Seventy percent of our area is primarily rural and this continues to be the most significant consider our relocation to electrical - having the variety to operate in locations where cars can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'

East of England Ambulance Service has actually been trialling three electrical ambulances given that 2023, however has actually not utilized them to transport guests. Another 8 will be delivered 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.'