AMBULANCES will this year aim to reach three-quarters of life-threatening emergencies in under eight minutes, health chiefs have announced. The response-time target has been set by the government, but Lancashire Ambulance Service is three years ahead of schedule by bringing in the policy in 1997-8.

Cover for the Pendle area comes from Burnley, Barnoldswick and Nelson ambulance stations with primary back-up from Clitheroe and Altham, and secondary back-up from Accrington.

Cases which need immediate treatment will be given priority, but at least 95 per cent of all emergency calls will be attended within the current standard of 19 minutes.

Service chief David Hill says the move will save many lives.

"The first eight minutes are absolutely critical to the chances of survival in cases of cardiac arrest," he explains.

"Early treatment of many life-threatening incidents is the key to future recovery prospects."

This year the service also intends to replace 12 ambulances and 15 non-emergency vehicles, install a new radio system and equip controllers with computer information on dispatching ambulances.

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