# Ambulance services: funding, staff and response times

url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/ambulance/
updated: 29 September 2026
licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources.
publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk)

# Ambulance services: funding, staff and response times



Last updated 29 September 2026.
Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/).





**£5.5bn** was spent on ambulance services in Ambulance services, United Kingdom in 2024-25, **£78.77** per resident. That is +4.4% on a year earlier after inflation (+8.7% in cash). In 2025-26 prices it has gone from £5.4bn in 2023-24 to £5.6bn.



Figure as of unknown date. Source:
[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2024/wast-annual-report-and-accounts-202324/), [Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9875/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-25.pdf).





## Key figures



- £5.5bnSpent in 2024-25, cash

+8.7% on a year earlier
- +4.4%Real-terms change, 2024-25 on a year earlier

£5.6bn in 2025-26 prices
- £78.77Per resident, 2024-25




Sources: [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/), [Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf).





## What is the short version?



- **Ten trusts in England** and one national service each in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- **Response times against the targets,** compared within each nation only, because each measures them differently.
- **Handover delays** at hospital are shown where published.






## Over the longest run published: cash, real terms and per head




**Ambulance services, United Kingdom: spending in cash and in 2025-26 prices, £ million**








Real terms use HM Treasury’s GDP deflator, 2025-26 prices. Breaks in the series: 2017-18: England’s response categories 1 to 4 and their standards (the Ambulance Response Programme) began in 2017; the NHS England series here starts with them. Earlier red/green figures are not comparable. 2022-23: Scotland: response times from April 2022 are provisional while the Scottish Ambulance Service revises its definition. 2023-24: England: handover times are in AmbSYS from October 2023, replacing the winter situation reports. 2025-26: Wales: a new clinical response model from July 2025 (purple, red, orange, yellow, green); the old red 8-minute measure ends in June 2025 and the two are not comparable. 2026-27: England: integrated care boards merged in April 2026; the trust areas are drawn on the new boards. From August 2026 NHS England moved some ambulance data to the Ambulance Data Set, and the latest month is revised the month after.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Cash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2023-24Details | £5,405.5m | £5,021.4m |
| Cash£5,021.4m | | |
| 2024-25Details | £5,645.2m | £5,457.1m |
| Cash£5,457.1m | | |






Figure as of unknown date. Source:
[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2024/wast-annual-report-and-accounts-202324/), [Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9875/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-25.pdf).





**Ambulance services, United Kingdom: spending per resident, 2025-26 prices**








Per resident divides by ONS mid-year population estimates.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Year | Per resident, 2025-26 prices | Per resident, cash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2023-24Details | £79 | £73 |
| Per resident, cash£73 | | |
| 2024-25Details | £81 | £79 |
| Per resident, cash£79 | | |






Figure as of unknown date. Source:
[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2024/wast-annual-report-and-accounts-202324/), [Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9875/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-25.pdf).





**Spending per resident by nation, 2024-25**








Each nation is divided by its own population, so the figures compare like for like. England-only and UK-wide spending are never added together here.




**The numbers behind this chart**





| Item | £ per resident, 2024-25, cash |
| --- | --- |
| England | £76 |
| Scotland | £86 |
| Wales | £102 |
| Northern Ireland | £99 |






Figure as of unknown date. Source:
[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/), [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2024/wast-annual-report-and-accounts-202324/), [Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf), [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9875/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-25.pdf).




Source: NHS England, [NHS providers: trust accounts consolidation (TAC) data, 2024/25, 2022/23, 2020/21 accounts](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/); Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/); Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2024/wast-annual-report-and-accounts-202324/); Scottish Ambulance Service, [Scottish Ambulance Service Board, Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf); Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust, [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HSC Trust, Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf); Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust, [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HSC Trust, Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9875/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-25.pdf).





## Response times




**Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response: England**








Mean response time for category 2 calls. The standard is 18 minutes; NHS England’s planning ambition for 2025-26 was a mean of 30 minutes. Target: 18 minutes (category 2 mean).




**The numbers behind this chart**



Search




| Year | England |
| --- | --- |
| 2017-08 | 23.9 |
| 2017-09 | 22.0 |
| 2017-10 | 21.9 |
| 2017-11 | 22.8 |
| 2017-12 | 29.6 |
| 2018-01 | 26.1 |
| 2018-02 | 25.6 |
| 2018-03 | 27.7 |
| 2018-04 | 20.2 |
| 2018-05 | 21.2 |
| 2018-06 | 21.5 |
| 2018-07 | 22.6 |
| 2018-08 | 20.6 |
| 2018-09 | 21.6 |
| 2018-10 | 21.3 |
| 2018-11 | 21.9 |
| 2018-12 | 22.4 |
| 2019-01 | 23.0 |
| 2019-02 | 23.6 |
| 2019-03 | 21.3 |
| 2019-04 | 21.5 |
| 2019-05 | 21.0 |
| 2019-06 | 22.5 |
| 2019-07 | 23.3 |
| 2019-08 | 21.3 |
| 2019-09 | 22.4 |
| 2019-10 | 23.8 |
| 2019-11 | 25.9 |
| 2019-12 | 28.0 |
| 2020-01 | 20.9 |
| 2020-02 | 22.1 |
| 2020-03 | 32.1 |
| 2020-04 | 18.5 |
| 2020-05 | 13.5 |
| 2020-06 | 14.9 |
| 2020-07 | 16.7 |
| 2020-08 | 20.1 |
| 2020-09 | 22.6 |
| 2020-10 | 25.4 |
| 2020-11 | 21.3 |
| 2020-12 | 27.9 |
| 2021-01 | 29.7 |
| 2021-02 | 18.3 |
| 2021-03 | 18.4 |
| 2021-04 | 20.3 |
| 2021-05 | 24.6 |
| 2021-06 | 30.7 |
| 2021-07 | 41.1 |
| 2021-08 | 38.7 |
| 2021-09 | 45.5 |
| 2021-10 | 53.9 |
| 2021-11 | 46.6 |
| 2021-12 | 53.4 |
| 2022-01 | 38.1 |
| 2022-02 | 42.1 |
| 2022-03 | 61.1 |
| 2022-04 | 51.3 |
| 2022-05 | 39.9 |
| 2022-06 | 51.4 |
| 2022-07 | 58.9 |
| 2022-08 | 42.6 |
| 2022-09 | 48.0 |
| 2022-10 | 61.3 |
| 2022-11 | 48.2 |
| 2022-12 | 92.9 |
| 2023-01 | 32.1 |
| 2023-02 | 32.3 |
| 2023-03 | 39.6 |
| 2023-04 | 28.6 |
| 2023-05 | 32.4 |
| 2023-06 | 36.8 |
| 2023-07 | 31.8 |
| 2023-08 | 31.5 |
| 2023-09 | 37.7 |
| 2023-10 | 41.7 |
| 2023-11 | 38.5 |
| 2023-12 | 46.0 |
| 2024-01 | 40.1 |
| 2024-02 | 36.3 |
| 2024-03 | 33.9 |
| 2024-04 | 30.4 |
| 2024-05 | 32.7 |
| 2024-06 | 34.6 |
| 2024-07 | 33.4 |
| 2024-08 | 27.4 |
| 2024-09 | 36.1 |
| 2024-10 | 42.3 |
| 2024-11 | 42.4 |
| 2024-12 | 47.4 |
| 2025-01 | 35.7 |
| 2025-02 | 31.4 |
| 2025-03 | 28.6 |
| 2025-04 | 27.5 |
| 2025-05 | 27.8 |
| 2025-06 | 29.6 |
| 2025-07 | 28.6 |
| 2025-08 | 27.0 |
| 2025-09 | 30.8 |
| 2025-10 | 32.6 |
| 2025-11 | 32.8 |
| 2025-12 | 32.7 |
| 2026-01 | 35.1 |
| 2026-02 | 29.0 |
| 2026-03 | 26.3 |
| 2026-04 | 24.5 |
| 2026-05 | 29.2 |
| 2026-06 | 32.5 |
| 2026-07 | 29.8 |
| 2026-08 | 28.9 |











Figure as of unknown date. Source:
[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/AmbSYS-to-Aug-2026-b3dsa.csv).






| Nation | Most urgent calls | Next most urgent | Staff |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| EnglandDetails | Category 1 mean: 7.9 minutes (2026-08) | Category 2 mean: 28.9 minutes (2026-08) | 55,608 FTE (2026-07) |
| Most urgent callsCategory 1 mean: 7.9 minutes (2026-08)Next most urgentCategory 2 mean: 28.9 minutes (2026-08) | | | |
| WalesDetails | Purple median: 7.4 minutes (2026-08) | Red median: 9.0 minutes (2026-08) | 4,242 FTE (2026-03) |
| Most urgent callsPurple median: 7.4 minutes (2026-08)Next most urgentRed median: 9.0 minutes (2026-08) | | | |
| ScotlandDetails | Purple median: 8.1 minutes (2026-09-14) | Red median: 9.3 minutes (2026-09-14) | 5,480 FTE (2024-25) |
| Most urgent callsPurple median: 8.1 minutes (2026-09-14)Next most urgentRed median: 9.3 minutes (2026-09-14) | | | |
| Northern IrelandDetails | Category 1 mean: 11.8 minutes (2026-03) | Category 2 mean: 76.6 minutes (2026-03) | 1,594 FTE (2026-06) |
| Most urgent callsCategory 1 mean: 11.8 minutes (2026-03)Next most urgentCategory 2 mean: 76.6 minutes (2026-03) | | | |





Each nation defines its categories and measures differently (means in England and Northern Ireland, medians in Wales and Scotland), so the rows are not a ranking.





## Vehicles


- **England:** NHS England does not publish how many ambulances or other vehicles each trust has. Some trusts give a fleet size in their own annual or sustainability reports, but not on a common basis.
- **Wales:** Not published as a total. The Welsh Ambulance Service’s 2025-26 annual report gives only the vehicles approved for replacement in the year (141, of which 44 emergency ambulances).
- **Scotland:** The Scottish Ambulance Service’s sustainability report lists its fleet by vehicle type, but not as an official statistic and not in a form that could be read reliably, so no figure is shown.
- **Northern Ireland:** Not published in the Department of Health’s statistics.





## Where the money goes, level by level



- UK total
- Nation
- Department or service body
- Local body
- Spending category
- Line or transaction not published





- Ambulance services, United Kingdom





### Ambulance services, United Kingdom



A sum of the four nations’ ambulance services’ own accounts (operating expenditure), worked out here, shown only for years all four are published. HM Treasury does not publish a figure for ambulance services: they sit inside its “medical services” line.



**£5.5bn** in 2024-25 (cash); £5.6bn in 2025-26 prices; £78.77 per resident; +8.7% on a year earlier in cash, +4.4% in real terms.





| Nation | Cash, 2024-25 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [England](#sd-E92000001)Details | £4.5bn | £4.6bn | £76.14 | +4.3% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/) | Broken down below |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£4.6bnPer resident£76.14Real change on a year earlier+4.3%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/)Below thisBroken down below | | | | | | |
| [Scotland](#sd-S92000003)Details | £479m | £495m | £86.31 | +3.0% | [Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf) | Broken down below |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£495mPer resident£86.31Real change on a year earlier+3.0%Source[Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf)Below thisBroken down below | | | | | | |
| [Wales](#sd-W92000004)Details | £325m | £336m | £102 | +1.9% | [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/) | Broken down below |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£336mPer resident£102Real change on a year earlier+1.9%Source[Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/)Below thisBroken down below | | | | | | |
| [Northern Ireland](#sd-N92000002)Details | £190m | £197m | £98.72 | +17.8% | [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf) | Broken down below |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£197mPer resident£98.72Real change on a year earlier+17.8%Source[Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf)Below thisBroken down below | | | | | | |








- Ambulance services, United Kingdom
- England





### England



The sum of the 10 ambulance trusts’ operating expenses from their accounts, worked out here, only for years every trust’s accounts are in NHS England’s data. It is not a Treasury figure, and it leaves out the Isle of Wight’s ambulance service, which is not shown separately. Trusts also run NHS 111 and patient transport, which are included.



**£4.5bn** in 2024-25 (cash); £4.6bn in 2025-26 prices; £76.14 per resident; +8.5% on a year earlier in cash, +4.3% in real terms.





| Local body | Cash, 2024-25 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [London Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/london-ambulance-service/)Details | £756m | £782m | £82.58 | +6.0% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£782mPer resident£82.58Real change on a year earlier+6.0%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/north-west-ambulance-service/)Details | £553m | £572m | £71.67 | +3.5% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£572mPer resident£71.67Real change on a year earlier+3.5%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/east-of-england-ambulance-service/)Details | £494m | £511m | £75.17 | +7.7% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£511mPer resident£75.17Real change on a year earlier+7.7%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/west-midlands-ambulance-service/)Details | £456m | £472m | £73.76 | +6.2% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£472mPer resident£73.76Real change on a year earlier+6.2%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/yorkshire-ambulance-service/)Details | £447m | £463m | £79.07 | +5.8% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£463mPer resident£79.07Real change on a year earlier+5.8%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/south-western-ambulance-service/)Details | £435m | £450m | £73.85 | +4.6% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£450mPer resident£73.85Real change on a year earlier+4.6%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/south-central-ambulance-service/)Details | £382m | £395m | £83.72 | −3.1% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£395mPer resident£83.72Real change on a year earlier−3.1%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/south-east-coast-ambulance-service/)Details | £365m | £378m | £73.92 | −0.3% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£378mPer resident£73.92Real change on a year earlier−0.3%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/east-midlands-ambulance-service/)Details | £331m | £342m | £65.35 | +5.0% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£342mPer resident£65.35Real change on a year earlier+5.0%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/north-east-ambulance-service/)Details | £245m | £254m | £89.29 | +5.7% | [NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£254mPer resident£89.29Real change on a year earlier+5.7%Source[NHS England](https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TAC-data-published-in-NHS-foundation-trusts-accounts-for-2024-25.xlsx)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |
| [Isle of Wight NHS Trust (ambulance service)](/ambulance/isle-of-wight/)Details | not published | not published | — | — | — | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)not publishedPer resident—Real change on a year earlier—Source—Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |








- Ambulance services, United Kingdom
- Scotland





### Scotland



Scotland has one national ambulance service; the figure is its own accounts.



**£479m** in 2024-25 (cash); £495m in 2025-26 prices; £86.31 per resident; +7.2% on a year earlier in cash, +3.0% in real terms.





| Department or service body | Cash, 2024-25 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Scottish Ambulance Service](/ambulance/scottish-ambulance-service/)Details | £479m | £495m | £86.31 | +3.0% | [Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£495mPer resident£86.31Real change on a year earlier+3.0%Source[Scottish Ambulance Service](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |








- Ambulance services, United Kingdom
- Wales





### Wales



Wales has one national ambulance service; the figure is its own accounts.



**£345m** in 2025-26 (cash); £345m in 2025-26 prices; £109 per resident; +6.2% on a year earlier in cash, +2.7% in real terms.





| Department or service body | Cash, 2025-26 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](/ambulance/welsh-ambulance-services/)Details | £345m | £345m | £109 | +2.7% | [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£345mPer resident£109Real change on a year earlier+2.7%Source[Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |








- Ambulance services, United Kingdom
- Northern Ireland





### Northern Ireland



Northern Ireland has one national ambulance service; the figure is its own accounts.



**£153m** in 2025-26 (cash); £153m in 2025-26 prices; £79.24 per resident; −19.7% on a year earlier in cash, −22.4% in real terms.





| Department or service body | Cash, 2025-26 | Real terms (2025-26 prices) | Per resident | Real change on a year earlier | Source | Below this |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](/ambulance/northern-ireland-ambulance-service/)Details | £153m | £153m | £79.24 | −22.4% | [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf) | On its own page |
| Real terms (2025-26 prices)£153mPer resident£79.24Real change on a year earlier−22.4%Source[Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf)Below thisOn its own page | | | | | | |






Cash is as published. Real terms are in 2025-26 prices, using HM Treasury’s GDP deflator. Per resident divides by
ONS mid-year population for the area the body serves. Changes compare the same body in consecutive years.






## What comes out: results by body



These are outputs and results published alongside the money. They are not what the money bought: demand,
geography and recording practice differ between areas, and none of these figures shows cause and effect.





| Body | Category 1 (life-threatening): average response, 2026-08 | Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-08 | Handovers taking over an hour, 2026-08 | Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-08 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **England**Details | 7.9 minutes | 28.9 minutes | 7.0% | 13.8 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0828.9 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-087.0%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0813.8 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/east-midlands-ambulance-service/)Details | 8.8 minutes | 31.8 minutes | 9.5% | 14.7 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0831.8 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-089.5%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0814.7 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/east-of-england-ambulance-service/)Details | 8.8 minutes | 34.3 minutes | 13.4% | 13.1 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0834.3 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-0813.4%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0813.1 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [Isle of Wight NHS Trust (ambulance service)](/ambulance/isle-of-wight/)Details | 8.9 minutes | 28.8 minutes | 4.1% | 19.1 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0828.8 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-084.1%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0819.1 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [London Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/london-ambulance-service/)Details | 7.1 minutes | 32.4 minutes | 1.2% | 14.2 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0832.4 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-081.2%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0814.2 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/north-east-ambulance-service/)Details | 6.2 minutes | 19.8 minutes | 1.2% | 15.3 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0819.8 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-081.2%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0815.3 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/north-west-ambulance-service/)Details | 7.0 minutes | 23.1 minutes | 5.6% | 12.7 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0823.1 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-085.6%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0812.7 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/south-central-ambulance-service/)Details | 8.7 minutes | 28.7 minutes | 1.5% | 11.6 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0828.7 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-081.5%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0811.6 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/south-east-coast-ambulance-service/)Details | 7.4 minutes | 29.4 minutes | 0.9% | 13.7 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0829.4 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-080.9%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0813.7 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/south-western-ambulance-service/)Details | 9.6 minutes | 37.7 minutes | 13.3% | 15.2 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0837.7 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-0813.3%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0815.2 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust](/ambulance/west-midlands-ambulance-service/)Details | 8.0 minutes | 20.9 minutes | 19.8% | 14.6 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0820.9 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-0819.8%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0814.6 per 1,000 residents | | | | |
| [Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust](/ambulance/yorkshire-ambulance-service/)Details | 7.9 minutes | 24.5 minutes | 0.7% | 13.3 per 1,000 residents |
| Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response, 2026-0824.5 minutesHandovers taking over an hour, 2026-080.7%Incidents per 1,000 residents, 2026-0813.3 per 1,000 residents | | | | |






What each measure counts



- Category 1 (life-threatening): average response

Mean time from the call to the first ambulance response arriving, for category 1 calls (cardiac arrest and other life-threatening conditions), against the national ambulance response standards for England (Ambulance Response Programme, 2017). Target: 7 minutes (category 1 mean).
- Category 2 (emergency, such as stroke or heart attack): average response

Mean response time for category 2 calls. The standard is 18 minutes; NHS England’s planning ambition for 2025-26 was a mean of 30 minutes. Target: 18 minutes (category 2 mean).
- Handovers taking over an hour

Share of handovers with a known time that took over 60 minutes (AmbSYS A146 ÷ A140).
- Incidents per 1,000 residents

Incidents in the month per 1,000 residents of the area the trust serves (ONS mid-year estimates; the area is the trust’s integrated care boards).







## What people say about it




### What is behind ambulance delays?





### Those who say ambulance service funding and capacity are the main cause



- The greatest pressure used to be in winter but underfunding and staff shortages now mean it's frantic all year round. Helga Pile, head of health, UNISON ([6 June 2025](https://unison.org.uk/press/2025/06/more-data-and-extra-guidance-alone-wont-convince-staff-emergency-care-pressures-will))
- Without enough staff, ambulances cannot operate at full capacity and response times suffer. Jas Athwal MP (Labour), House of Commons ([6 March 2025](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-03-06/debates/984BB757-AE11-408C-8BA6-56885FB4A999/AmbulanceResponseTimes)) Checked against the official Hansard text via the Hansard API (the web page blocks automated fetches).
- Ambulance services are under incredible pressure but resources have not increased in line with rising demand. Rachel Harrison, national officer, GMB ([30 January 2020](https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/30000-patients-hit-ambulance-delays-more-one-hour)) Older statement (2020), outside the preferred window.





### Those who say hospital handover delays and social care flow are the main cause



- Hospital handover delays continue to be a major issue affecting ambulance service performance and the quality of patient care, as they have been for several years now, something the data underlines heavily. Anna Parry, managing director, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives ([23 April 2025](https://aace.org.uk/news/the-latest-update-on-the-w45-rapid-release-protocols/))
- A huge amount of time is lost to ambulance handover delays because there is no space for patients. Ashley Dalton MP (Labour), Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health, House of Commons ([6 March 2025](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-03-06/debates/984BB757-AE11-408C-8BA6-56885FB4A999/AmbulanceResponseTimes)) Checked against the official Hansard text via the Hansard API (the web page blocks automated fetches).
- Inability to admit to hospital is a key point in the handover delay problem, and the social care talks are a key measure in solving it. Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, House of Commons ([6 March 2025](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-03-06/debates/984BB757-AE11-408C-8BA6-56885FB4A999/AmbulanceResponseTimes)) Checked against the official Hansard text via the Hansard API (the web page blocks automated fetches).






Views are attributed to the people and organisations named, with the date and a link to where they said it. This site takes no side.






## What these figures do and don't show



- **Each nation measures response times its own way.** England uses categories 1 to 4 with national standards; Wales moved to a new model in July 2025, which breaks its series; Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own measures. Times are compared within a nation, never across.
- **No Treasury figure for ambulances.** HM Treasury counts ambulance services inside medical services, so the UK figure here is the sum of the services’ own accounts, for years all of them have.
- **Handover delays are hospital as well as ambulance.** Time lost at hospital handover depends on the hospital’s capacity as much as on the ambulance service.
- **Vehicle numbers are not published** as official statistics for any nation.
- **Nothing here shows cause and effect.**




Figures from data/services/ambulance.json, generated 29 September 2026.



## Use this data



The figures belong to the bodies that published them and are used under their terms, listed in
[Sources for this page](#sources); most are Crown copyright under the Open Government Licence.
Only our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, published under
[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/): reuse them, including
commercially, if you credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) and link back to this page.



### Download



- [Ambulance services: funding, staff and response times: the dataset (CSV)](/data/services/ambulance.csv)
[JSON](/data/services/ambulance.json)

- [All data, field definitions and licences](/data/)







## Sources for this page





| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [NHS providers: trust accounts consolidation (TAC) data, 2024/25, 2022/23, 2020/21 accounts](https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/) | NHS England | — | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2026/annual-report-and-accounts-2025-2026/) | Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust | — | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24](https://ambulance.nhs.wales/files/publications/annual-reports/2024/wast-annual-report-and-accounts-202324/) | Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust | — | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [Scottish Ambulance Service Board, Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25](https://www.scottishambulance.com/media/bg1hzlgv/annual-report-and-accounts-2024_25.pdf) | Scottish Ambulance Service | — | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HSC Trust, Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9874/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2025-26.pdf) | Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust | — | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HSC Trust, Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25](https://nias.hscni.net/download/21/annual-reports/9875/nias-annual-report-and-accounts-2024-25.pdf) | Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust | — | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |
| [Ambulance Quality Indicators: AmbSYS, to August 2026](https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/AmbSYS-to-Aug-2026-b3dsa.csv) | NHS England | — | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) |





Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations
are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.