Ambulance response times by area: England, September 2026

Quickest to emergencies such as stroke: North East Ambulance Service 21 min on average. England: 31 min.

Life-threatening emergency: call 999.

Services ranked

Every category, every service
Category 1: life-threatening, such as a cardiac arrest. Standard: 7 min on average, 9 in 10 within 15 min.
ServiceAverage9 in 10 within
England8 min14 min
North East Ambulance Service6 min11 min
North West Ambulance Service7 min12 min
West Midlands Ambulance Service8 min15 min
Isle of Wight Ambulance Service8 min16 min
Yorkshire Ambulance Service8 min14 min
South Central Ambulance Service9 min16 min
South East Coast Ambulance Service8 min16 min
London Ambulance Service7 min12 min
East Midlands Ambulance Service9 min15 min
South Western Ambulance Service10 min18 min
East of England Ambulance Service9 min16 min
Category 2: emergencies, such as a stroke or heart attack. Standard: 18 min on average, 9 in 10 within 40 min.
ServiceAverage9 in 10 within
England31 min1 h 4 min
North East Ambulance Service21 min42 min
North West Ambulance Service24 min48 min
West Midlands Ambulance Service25 min50 min
Isle of Wight Ambulance Service26 min54 min
Yorkshire Ambulance Service27 min57 min
South Central Ambulance Service32 min1 h
South East Coast Ambulance Service33 min1 h 6 min
London Ambulance Service34 min1 h 11 min
East Midlands Ambulance Service34 min1 h 8 min
South Western Ambulance Service37 min1 h 15 min
East of England Ambulance Service41 min1 h 28 min
Category 3: urgent but not life-threatening, such as a fall. Standard: 9 in 10 within 2 hours.
ServiceAverage9 in 10 within
England1 h 58 min4 h 31 min
North East Ambulance Service1 h2 h 16 min
North West Ambulance Service1 h 32 min3 h 8 min
West Midlands Ambulance Service2 h 3 min5 h 4 min
Isle of Wight Ambulance Service1 h 16 min2 h 38 min
Yorkshire Ambulance Service1 h 32 min3 h 37 min
South Central Ambulance Service2 h 26 min5 h 12 min
South East Coast Ambulance Service2 h 33 min6 h 7 min
London Ambulance Service1 h 41 min4 h 9 min
East Midlands Ambulance Service2 h 25 min5 h 15 min
South Western Ambulance Service2 h 4 min4 h 46 min
East of England Ambulance Service2 h 26 min5 h 46 min
Category 4: less urgent; some calls get advice by phone instead. Standard: 9 in 10 within 3 hours.
ServiceAverage9 in 10 within
England2 h 26 min5 h 40 min
North East Ambulance Service1 h 14 min2 h 59 min
North West Ambulance Service1 h 37 min3 h 46 min
West Midlands Ambulance Service2 h 45 min7 h 17 min
Isle of Wight Ambulance Service2 h 14 min5 h 7 min
Yorkshire Ambulance Service2 h 6 min4 h 30 min
South Central Ambulance Service2 h 45 min5 h 32 min
South East Coast Ambulance Service3 h 5 min7 h 13 min
London Ambulance Service2 h 38 min5 h 56 min
East Midlands Ambulance Service3 h 33 min8 h 22 min
South Western Ambulance Service2 h 43 min7 h 2 min
East of England Ambulance Service2 h 39 min7 h 32 min

What the categories mean

  • Category 1: life-threatening, such as a cardiac arrest. Standard: 7 min on average, 9 in 10 within 15 min.
  • Category 2: emergencies, such as a stroke or heart attack. Standard: 18 min on average, 9 in 10 within 40 min.
  • Category 3: urgent but not life-threatening, such as a fall. Standard: 9 in 10 within 2 hours.
  • Category 4: less urgent; some calls get advice by phone instead. Standard: 9 in 10 within 3 hours.
Every area, A to Z

NHS England figures, , checked . About the data.