Department of Health says that data used are out of date and misleading and doesn’t take into account record callouts
Ambulance breakdowns have increased by nearly 40 per cent in five years, leaving patients at risk of being “stranded waiting in pain”, according to analysis by the Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dems said the figures were obtained using the Freedom of Information Act and show there were 5,159 ambulance breakdowns in England in 2018, rising every year to 7,060 in 2022 – meaning last year breakdowns occurred 19 times a day on average.
The party’s health spokesman, Daisy Cooper, said the figures were “yet more evidence that the Conservatives have left our NHS to crumble”.
Requests for information on breakdowns were sent to 11 NHS trusts, the party said, with six providing information.