Performance measurement and the UK emergency ambulance service: Unintended Consequences of the ambulance response time targets

The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance measurement in the UK NHS ambulance service documenting various unintended consequences of the current performance framework and suggest a future research agenda.Significant unintended consequences of the ambulance performance targets based on response times have been systematically documented which are likely to put the target under spotlight especially that of the eight minute response. The current policy focus to reform the eight minute target by making it more stringent has the potential of jeopardising the reform agenda based on developing clinical skills of the paramedics and introducing clinical management in the service.