On shift with the North East Ambulance Service
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) is the only one in England to meet the level required for responding to the most urgent calls, according to NHS figures.
The standard time for category one patients – those suffering life-threatening injuries and illnesses, such as heart attacks – is seven minutes. NEAS's average was six minutes and 20 seconds in December.
The service said it had focused on building strong relationships with hospitals, including monitoring pressures so crews could be diverted, and treating patients in the community.
But winter pressures have also had an effect, with a 5.3% rise in category one calls since December, and more delays in handing over patients at accident and emergency departments.
The BBC's health correspondent Sharon Barbour joined emergency paramedics on shift for the day.
