RAPID response vehicles have been praised as part of an ambulance campaign about emergency care.

Latest figures show that the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS)’s Rapid Response Vehicle clinicians resolve 16 per cent of incidents they attend at the scene, helping to minimise unnecessary trips to hospital and relieve pressure on other NHS services.

Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) are sent to 48 per cent of incidents NWAS responds to and arrive at the scene of an incident in an average of five minutes.

There are approximately 82 RRVs on shift at any one time in the north west, which equates to a third of all NWAS resources.

They are parked strategically in busy locations around the region so they can reach patients as quickly as possible.

The statistics have been published as part of NWAS’ new #Team999 campaign, which aims to educate people about the different care options available if they ring 999.