South Western Ambulance Service missed call-out response targets for October.
The service achieved an eight-minute response time for 71.68% of urgent call-outs, falling short of the 75% target.
Urgent call-outs are known as ‘red 1 calls’ and refer to life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest or traumatic injuries.
The service also failed to achieve the 75% target for red 2 calls, which include patients with serious breathing difficulties or a suspected stroke.
A spokesperson from the Trust said: “Like all ambulance Trusts around the country, the service is facing an ongoing increase in demand for its services meaning more calls to respond to and increasing numbers of patients requiring care.
“An additional challenge for the south west region is that it is predominantly rural, with many isolated communities. This area of the country also has the highest percentage of elderly people who are more likely to access our services, especially in the run up to and during winter.”
South Western Ambulance Service covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Bristol and Bath.
There is already nationwide scrutiny into emergency services after a recent investigation found ambulance patients are facing significant delays at A&E.
Many hospitals are falling short of the 15 minute recommendation, with the number of delays longer than 30 minutes currently running at 4,500 a week.
Some patients are left to wait in the ambulance for hours at a time, with one case in Wales involving a six-hour delay.
Negligent emergency care
If you or a member of your family has suffered because of poor emergency medical care, get in touch with us today to discuss your options. If there has been a case of medical negligence, you will be entitled to compensation.
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