THE ambulance service covering the Cotswolds is to participate in a pilot scheme working to reduce the amount of crews sent out on non-emergency calls.

South West Ambulance Service is one of two providers to take part in the project, which will give people answering 999 calls twice as much time before they have to send out a crew.

Currently, in the most serious cases, an ambulance has to be sent out within 60 seconds of an emergency call being answered. But the new scheme, which is expected to begin next month, will allow them 120 seconds to gather all the information they need.

The pilot is being launched following concerns call handlers were not able to gather enough information before dispatching ambulance crews. As a result, 20 per cent of crews were called back before reaching the scene after the call handler had established the patient did not need an ambulance.

NHS England’s national director for acute care Professor Keith Willett said it was hoped the longer time will mean patients who genuinely need ambulances are treated as quickly as possible.

“It’s not about relaxing standards,” he said. “By acting with slightly less haste on the calls, we believe we can get to more patients with more speed.”

Chairman of the association of ambulance chief executives Anthony Marsh said staff had been calling for the call handling time to be increased for some time.

“These changes will ensure that those people with the most serious conditions get the most urgent response, which will protect patients and save lives,” he said.

“The changes will also allow us to provide patients with the right level of care so that they get the best possible outcome.”

The scheme is also to be trialled in London.