AMBULANCES are getting to emergencies faster than ever, but bosses fear overwhelming demand could slow down their success without extra cash.

New government league tables show the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service NHS Trust (GMAS) is reaching 63 per cent of 999 calls in eight minutes and 95.6 per cent of all calls in 15 minutes.

Both figures are within government recommendations of 50 per cent and 95 per cent respectively.

The tables also show the Whitefield-based service is the most efficient in the country, costing £63.61 for each call.

In contrast, Greater London Ambulance Service spends £151.32 each time it is called out.

Mr Adrian Lucas, chief executive of GMAS, said: "We have achieved these figure despite a significant increase in the number of calls we receive and we have achieved it without any corresponding increase in funding."

GMAS has been swamped by an extra 20,000 calls in the last year and according to Mr Lucas: "If demand continues to increase for this service with no corresponding investment we will struggle to improve response times in the future.

"It's a simple equation, we are being asked to handle more calls and the public expect continual improvement but this simply cannot be sustained without more money."

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