SUFFOLK'S ambulance service has come in the bottom three in a shock nationwide survey of response times today.Of the 32 regions in the survey, only London and the West Country scored worse than the East Anglian Ambulance Trust.

SUFFOLK'S ambulance service has come in the bottom three in a shock nationwide survey of response times today.

Of the 32 regions in the survey, only London and the West Country scored worse than the East Anglian Ambulance Trust.

According to the Department of Health, Suffolk made 63.8pc of urgent calls within the allotted time compared with the top-performing figure of 87.5%.

National statistics on the performance of ambulance services provided by NHS in England for the year 2001/02 are published today by the Department of Health.

The Statistical Bulletin contains information for the year 2001-2002 and also includes some data about earlier years.

The main findings between 2000/01 and 2001/02 were: The number of emergency calls rose by 7% from 4.4 million to 4.7 million.

The number of incidents attended rose by 7% from 3.6 million to 3.8 million

The number of emergency patient journeys rose by 6£ from 2.91 million to 3.1 million.

In the year 2001-02:

Fourteen services responded to over 75% of category A (immediately life threatening) calls within 8 minutes (3 in 2000-01)

Sixteen services responded to between 60% and 75% of category A (immediately life threatening) calls within 8 minutes (12 in 2000-01)

Two services responded to between 50% and 60% of category A (immediately life threatening) calls within 8 minutes (11 in 2000-01)

Sixteen services responded to 95% or more of category B/C (other emergency) calls within 14 minutes (urban services) or 19 minutes (rural services).