In 2021 to 2022, the average response time for Category 2 incidents, emergency calls such as stroke patients, in the north-west of England reached more than 47 minutes – the NHS target is 18 minutes.
Last month, Ms Morris, 75, said her husband, George, was told on the phone there was a long wait and it could be hours before an ambulance turned up.
However, Mr Ainsworth is promising that vulnerable patients, like Mr Morris, will not have to wait that long again.
“We are in the strongest position I believe we have been as an organisation,” he said.
“Do contact us, we will be there and we will respond”.
More than 280 people have been recruited as frontline staff for the NWAS.
These include paramedics and emergency call handlers.
