The county's ambulance service achieved the Government's response time target during the first five months of this year, according to a new report.

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire NHS Ambulance and Paramedic Service reached more than 75 per cent of life-threatening calls within eight minutes, despite a significant increase in the number of emergency calls received.

The trust put this achievement down to extra investment from the Government, which enabled more front line staff to be employed, and the introduction of new fast response vehicles.

July 3, 2002 15:30