AMBULANCES in Greater Manchester improved their response times despite a huge increase in call-outs over the Christmas period. And calls during a hectic New Year's Eve could have been even sharper - had it not been for a massive total of 130 fruitless turn outs to people who were either uninjured, blind drunk or had hot-footed it before the ambulance arrived. Calls during the festive season increased by 20 per cent against normal periods, but the service improved its response times against the corresponding period last year by almost 13 per cent.

According to available figures, 61.2 per cent of calls were responded to within eight minutes this year against 48.4 per cent last year.

The improvement in performance resulted in an additional 2,638 patients receiving treatment from emergency paramedics within eight minutes.

GMAS operations director, Mike Lloyd said: "Our ability to reach calls as quickly as possible is a result of the service's technological innovations alongside the commitment of our staff. It is these vital early minutes which can affect the outcome of emergency situations.

"Government standards demand ambulance services reach 50 per cent of emergency calls within eight minutes and during normal operating times we consistently exceed this standard. Despite a very testing period, we are able to provide the public with the same high levels of service and this is to be commended.

"The additional revenues made available by the Government for winter health pressures has certainly complemented the Trust's own initiatives."

The BEN was able to test ambulance response time with frightening reality on Friday when a colleague collapsed in the Churchgate office. Paramedics were on the scene in three minutes.

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