Ambulances responding to patients in “life-threatening conditions” such as heart attacks or stroke are taking more than a minute longer to reach them compared to three years ago, Labour warned yesterday.

According to Health and Social Care Information Centre records, category-A callouts are taking an average 67 seconds longer to get to patients than in 2011.

Labour blames the chaos at A&E departments, with ambulances trapped in queues outside.

Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said this is “leaving the next caller facing longer, agonising waits,” pointing out that A&E departments have missed the government’s waiting time target for 51 weeks running.

He said: “More and more calls are being attended by police cars and even fire engines on David Cameron’s watch. For people who’ve suffered cardiac arrest or stroke, every second counts and that is why this slump in standards cannot continue.”

British Heart Foundation and Stroke Association charities both warned delays increase the chance of sufferers dying.

Stroke Association’s research director Dale Webb said “time lost is brain lost.”