How fast do ambulances arrive for a heart attack in the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust area?

A suspected heart attack is usually a Category 2 call. In May 2026, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust had a mean Category 2 response time of 34 minutes 12 seconds and a 90th-centile time of 65 minutes 44 seconds (9 in 10 responses were within this). The most life-threatening calls (Category 1, e.g. cardiac arrest) had a mean response of 8 minutes 49 seconds. These are monthly averages, not a guarantee for any single call. Source: NHS England AmbSYS, May 2026.

Is South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust meeting the ambulance response targets?

On May 2026 data, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s Category 1 mean of 8 minutes 49 seconds was above the 7-minute target, and its Category 2 mean of 34 minutes 12 seconds was above the 18-minute target. Its Gera Ambulance Performance Index is 66 / 100. Source: NHS England AmbSYS, May 2026.

What should I do for a non-emergency in the South East area?

For a 999 emergency always call 999. For a non-urgent health concern that does not need an ambulance, a GeraClinic online consultation with a UK-registered clinician can assess and triage you — often the same day. This helps keep South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust resources free for genuine emergencies.

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust — Ambulance Response Times

Real NHS England Ambulance Quality Indicators (AmbSYS) for May 2026, covering the South East region. Org code RYE.

What is the ambulance response time for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust?

In May 2026, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust recorded a mean Category 1 (life-threatening) ambulance response time of 8 minutes 49 seconds — above the 7-minute target — and a mean Category 2 (emergency) response of 34 minutes 12 seconds against an 18-minute standard, per NHS England AmbSYS. Its Gera Ambulance Performance Index is 66/100. Gera re-dates this monthly.

Source:NHS England — Ambulance Quality Indicators (AQI), AmbSYS·as of May 2026updated monthly (last: 18 June 2026)

Gera Ambulance Performance Index66 / 100Combines this trust's Category 1 (8 minutes 49 seconds) and Category 2 (34 minutes 12 seconds) mean response times against their 7-minute and 18-minute targets. England scores 75.3.How this index is calculated

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust ambulance response times — May 2026 (NHS England AmbSYS, OGL v3.0)
Category	Mean response	90th centile	England mean	Target (mean / 90th)
Category 1 (life-threatening)	8 minutes 49 seconds	15 minutes 59 seconds	7 minutes 52 seconds	7 min / 15 min
Category 2 (emergency)	34 minutes 12 seconds	65 minutes 44 seconds	29 minutes 13 seconds	18 min / 40 min
Category 3 (urgent)	169 minutes 52 seconds	368 minutes 5 seconds	107 minutes 49 seconds	60 min / 120 min
Category 4 (less urgent)	198 minutes 38 seconds	416 minutes 36 seconds	148 minutes 50 seconds	— / 180 min

On the latest month, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust's Category 1 mean was above the 7-minute target and its Category 2 mean was above the 18-minute target, across 55,091 total incidents. These are monthly averages and not a prediction for any single 999 call.

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At South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, the latest mean Category 2 ambulance response time was 34 minutes 12 seconds, with a 90th-centile of 65 minutes 44 seconds — meaning 9 in 10 Category 2 responses arrived within that time.

Mean response

34 minutes 12 seconds

vs England average

+5 min

England 29 minutes 13 seconds

Gera Ambulance Performance Index

66 / 100

National Category 2 mean target: 18 minutes. This trust is above target on the latest month. The fastest trust for Category 2 this month is North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust at 18 minutes 30 seconds. Figures are monthly averages, not a prediction for any single call.

Category 2 calls are emergency, such as a suspected stroke or heart attack. If this is a real emergency, call 999 now — do not wait. This tool reports historical averages only.

Across 55,091 total incidents at this trust in the latest month. Source: NHS England Ambulance Quality Indicators (AmbSYS), May 2026.

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South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust ambulance response times: FAQs

What is the ambulance response time for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust?: In May 2026, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust recorded a mean Category 1 (life-threatening) response time of 8 minutes 49 seconds and a mean Category 2 (emergency) response time of 34 minutes 12 seconds. The national targets are 7 minutes and 18 minutes respectively. England averages were 7 minutes 52 seconds (C1) and 29 minutes 13 seconds (C2). Source: NHS England AmbSYS, May 2026.
How fast do ambulances arrive for a heart attack in the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust area?: A suspected heart attack is usually a Category 2 call. In May 2026, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust had a mean Category 2 response time of 34 minutes 12 seconds and a 90th-centile time of 65 minutes 44 seconds (9 in 10 responses were within this). The most life-threatening calls (Category 1, e.g. cardiac arrest) had a mean response of 8 minutes 49 seconds. These are monthly averages, not a guarantee for any single call. Source: NHS England AmbSYS, May 2026.
Is South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust meeting the ambulance response targets?: On May 2026 data, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s Category 1 mean of 8 minutes 49 seconds was above the 7-minute target, and its Category 2 mean of 34 minutes 12 seconds was above the 18-minute target. Its Gera Ambulance Performance Index is 66 / 100. Source: NHS England AmbSYS, May 2026.
What should I do for a non-emergency in the South East area?: For a 999 emergency always call 999. For a non-urgent health concern that does not need an ambulance, a GeraClinic online consultation with a UK-registered clinician can assess and triage you — often the same day. This helps keep South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust resources free for genuine emergencies.

Non-emergency in your area? Skip the wait

For a 999 emergency always call 999. For a non-urgent concern that doesn't need an ambulance, a UK-registered GeraClinic clinician can assess and triage you — often the same day — keeping South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust resources free for genuine emergencies.

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Contains public sector information published by NHS England and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS England — Ambulance Quality Indicators (AQI), AmbSYS (May 2026, published 11 June 2026).