NHS Information Centre Report on Ambulance services in England 2011: Executive summary • The total number of emergency calls was 8.08 million, a 209,608 (2.7%) increase over 2010 when there were 7.87 million. • Of these, 6.61 million calls (81.8%) resulted in an emergency response arriving at the scene of the incident, a 191,310 (3.0%) increase over 2010 when there were 6.42 million. • Of the incidents attended the number classed as category A was 2.23 million equal to 33.7%, the figure in 2010 was 2.08 million (32.4%). The number of incidents attended as class B was 2.63 million (39.8%), this is compared with 2.61 million (40.7%) in 2010. • The percentage of category A incidents that resulted in an emergency response arriving at the scene of the incident within 8 minutes in 2011 was 74.9% compared to 74.3% in 2010. • The percentage of category A incidents that resulted in an ambulance vehicle capable of transporting the patient arriving at the scene within 19 minutes was 96.7% compared to 96.8% in 2010. For category B incidents this was 91.2%.(1) • The number of emergency patient journeys was 4.87 million, over 172,000 (3.7%) more than in 2010 when there were 4.70 million. • 1.76 million patients were treated at the scene and did not need onward transportation. This is an increase of 164,224 (10.3%) since 2010. • There were 239,446 category C calls resolved with telephone advice, equating to 8.7% of all category C calls, an increase of 18,436 (8.3%) since 2010. (1)Due to changes in the category B 19 minute definitions for 2011 this data is not fully comparable with previous years. Definitions Category A: Presenting conditions, which may be immediately life threatening and should receive an emergency response within 8 minutes irrespective of location in 75% of cases. Presenting conditions, which require a fully equipped ambulance vehicle to attend the incident, must have an ambulance vehicle arrive within 19 minutes of the request for transport being made in 95% of cases, unless the control room decides that an ambulance is not required. Category B: Presenting conditions, which though serious are not immediately life threatening and must receive a response within 19 minutes in 95% of cases. Category C: Presenting conditions which are not immediately serious or life threatening. For these calls the response time standards are not set nationally but are locally determined.