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HOW ARE EMERGENCIES CATEGORISED WHEN YOU CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE?

Category 1: People with life-threatening injuries and illnesses, such as a cardiac arrest or serious allergic reactions.

On average, an ambulance arrives within seven minutes.

Category 2: Emergency conditions such as burns, epilepsy or stroke.

An ambulance should arrive within 18 minutes. 

Category 3: 'Urgent calls' like late-stages of labour, non-severe burns and diabetes. Patients may be treated by ambulance staff at home.

If the patient requires hospital treatment, at least nine times out of ten an ambulance will arrive within two hours. 

Category 4: 'Less urgent calls' such as diarrhoea, vomiting and urine infections. Patients may be given advice over the phone, or referred to another service such as a GP or pharmacist.

If hospital treatment is required, at least nine times out of ten an ambulance will arrive within three hours.

Source: NHS England 

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