• Sir Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of overseeing ‘lethal chaos’ in the NHS.
• Ambulances were expected to respond to emergency calls in 18 minutes.
• But some people had to wait 2.5 hours.

As the two sparred over ambulance wait times during PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of overseeing “lethal chaos” in the NHS.

Ambulances were expected to respond to emergency calls in 18 minutes, according to the Labor leader, but some people had to wait for more than 2.5 hours.

The PM said the NHS was dealing with the “unprecedented challenges” of Covid and a “very virulent” flu season.

He added that extra money from government would help reduce the waits.

The prime minister also attacked Sir Keir for opposing the government’s bill which would enforce minimum service levels during strike action including for ambulance staff, firefighters and railway workers.

“It’s absolutely right that people can rely on the emergency services when they need them,” he said.

“That’s why we are rapidly implementing measures to improve the delivery of ambulance times and, indeed, urgent and emergency care, but I’d say, if he cares about ensuring that patients get access to life-saving emergency care when they need it, why won’t he support our minimum safety legislation?”

The discussion took place at the same time the GMB union announced four more days for its ambulance employees to go on strike, including February 6 when nurses will also be participating.

The Labor leader accused Mr. Sunak of dodging his questions and pointed out that an ambulance wouldn’t reach in Plymouth until 14:40 GMT if a person experiencing chest symptoms had called 999 at the beginning of Prime Minister’s Questions at noon.

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