Health Secretary Wes Streeting faced calls last night to ditch the 'absurd' Net Zero strategy 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 medical facilities and ambulance stations to power a fleet of electric-powered vehicles.

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

The MoS can also reveal there are currently simply two electric-powered ambulances selecting up guests in England - compared with more than 4,500 diesel ambulances.

There are 160 other electrical emergency vehicles for paramedics, consisting of two vehicles, 16 reaction vans and three motorcycles.

The most current electric ambulances have a variety of approximately 200 miles, however paramedic teams in backwoods often take a trip further in a shift.

Latest figures reveal the average action 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 actually been having a hard time to meet their action targets. With these difficulties it is absurd 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 faced calls last night to ditch the 'unreasonable' plan to electrify all UK ambulances

'Time, planning and expenditure are going into buying electrical lorries and constructing battery chargers - a number of which will never be installed - instead of improving action times.

'Even more worrying is the challenge of upgrading the grid in time to meet the extra need.

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

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

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'Seventy per cent of our area is generally rural and this continues to be the most significant element in our move to electric - having the range to operate in locations where vehicles can do 200 miles-plus in a shift.'

East of England Ambulance Service has been trialling 3 electric ambulances given that 2023, but has actually not utilized them to transport travelers. Another eight will be delivered to the service this year.

The Department of Health stated: 'New electric ambulances will conserve the NHS ₤ 59million a year to reinvest in frontline care.'

The NHS said: 'It is right we look for sustainable options when they care and conserve the taxpayer cash. Electric ambulances will not affect action times, [and] are cutting emissions, maintenance and fuel costs.'

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