FEARS have been raised over ambulance cover in villages north of York after the introduction of a new computer system.

The system, which sees ambulances stationed around York according to historical data, is being tested in the city. Yorkshire Ambulance Service explained the thinking behind the new computer-controlled arrangements after a paramedic contacted The Press, concerned some areas such as Wigginton and Haxby were missing out on ambulance cover to places such as Acomb and Hull Road.

The ambulance paramedic, who is based in York, said vehicles were sent to places according to data on historical incidents, stored on a computer. “We have a new programme in the control room which is supposed to predict where incidents will take place,” the paramedic said. “Parts of York are given priority over others.”

The paramedic believed the system could put ambulances outside the target eight-minute response times for places such as Strensall.

“Unfortunately the people of Haxby and Strensall won’t be too pleased to hear there are two cars in Acomb and none north of York. “We can’t see why there’s two in one area and nothing north or south. It’s odd that a computer can predict how a job is going to come in based on what’s happened in the past.”

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said a new computerised system had been introduced to “support the deployment of our ambulances and rapid response vehicles throughout the communities we serve”. She said: “Identified as best practice across ambulance services by the Department of Health, it uses information based on historical demand. “The time of day and the day of week when 999 calls are received, and geographical demand, the physical location, determine where and when ambulances will be most needed. “This ‘intelligence’ is immediately available to us and helps us to select standby locations to best meet the needs of patients wherever they are located.”