The ambulance service in Essex in underfunded by £2.6 million compared with similar trusts across the country, it has been claimed.

And if extra cash is not found, its performance is likely to deteriorate.

External auditor Mike Robinson told board members of Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust: "The Trust is a an efficient provider of accident and emergency services.

"With the increased level of demand and increased callout and restricted resources, the Trust is between a rock and a hard place to meet performance targets."

Since the Trust was formed in 1992, emergency and urgent journeys have increased by 48 per cent.

From 1997 to 1998 Essex Ambulance reached 62 per cent of life threatening calls in the target time of eight minutes. But in 2001 a higher Government target of 75 per cent will be set.

Trust chief executive Gron Roberts, said: "Speed is the single thing we can do to make a difference to a patient's outcome. We have got to convince the authorities that we need investment."

Mr Roberts said it was also up to the community to help them.

A study by the Trust to find out why people dialled 999 showed it was mainly because they did not know what else to do, he said.

Many residential homes for the elderly have a policy to call an ambulance if someone falls out of bed.

The Trust hopes 999 calls will be reduced with the launch of NHS Direct in February, a 24-hour nurse-led phone service.

Essex is one of three Trusts to take be awarded funding for the scheme which aims to filter out non-urgent cases.

Finance director Brian Shipley said the Trust is overspent by £105,000 but is working for a break even point by March.

He added it was £2.6 million underfunded compared with similar ambulance trusts.

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