THE North West Ambulance Service has defended its response times after it failed to meet one of its key targets.

New figures have revealed that a third of ambulance trusts were unable to reach enough of the most seriously ill patients within the required time in December.

Four of England's 12 ambulance trusts, including North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), missed targets for reaching 95 per cent of Category A patients within 19 minutes.

The Department of Health stipulates that an ambulance or other vehicle capable of taking them to hospital should reach 95 per cent of ‘Category A’ cases, where a person's life is in immediate danger, within this time.

However, NWAS said it had missed this target by just 0.35 per cent.

A spokesman for the trust said: “North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust has achieved its target of 95 per cent for ‘Category A 19 minute response’ every month this financial year, apart from December 2011, when it achieved 94.65 per cent - 0.35 per cent below the target.

“This was due to an increase in the number of calls received during that period.

“Our year to date performance shows that we have achieved 95.85 per cent.”

Nationwide, 96.1 per cent of such calls received a response within 19 minutes in December, compared to 96.8 per cent for the eight months from April to December 2011.

A Department of Health spokesman said the increase was due to an increase in demand over the holiday season.

He said: “December saw a greater number of people going to hospital by ambulance than previous months, but despite this, the NHS is still on course to meet its targets by the end of the year.

“Patients should be able to expect a coherent 24/7 urgent and emergency care service which is accessible and safe.

“We expect all ambulance trusts, commissioners and the wider NHS to look at the data for their region and perform at the highest level.”