MP calls for urgent investment in extra ambulances after shocking new figures show that paramedics in the North West are the most overworked in the country

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock calling for urgent investment in extra ambulances after it was revealed that the North West has the lowest number of ambulances per head in the country.

New figures from the NHS show that London has twice as many ambulances per head as the North West does, despite covering a much smaller geographical area.

As a result, the North West has to deal with the most calls per ambulance than anywhere else - with each ambulance in the region over the past year dealing with 4,097 calls, compared to just 1,452 in Yorkshire.

Last month, a survey of local residents conducted by Tim found around 1 in 10 people who responded have waited over an hour for an ambulance during the last three years.

Tim said: "These shocking figures are an absolute disgrace.

"Our brilliant paramedics are overstretched and overworked all down to the fact that the Conservative Government are dealing them a rotten hand.

"The Government is providing too few ambulances, too few paramedics for the North West and particularly here in Cumbria.

"It's not acceptable and the Government need to change it now."