THE government has defended plans to answer more emergency calls with one-person ambulance crews.

Ambulance unions and some doctors fear the plans could put patients at risk. NHS bosses are splitting up many two-person crews in a bid to meet new response targets.

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said sending a `single responder' rather than a double-crew could help free up resources for other calls and would not present a risk.

He said: "Fast-response vehicles can often get to the scene faster than traditional ambulances, and can provide assessment and care until a further response arrives."

His remarks come after the BBC reported that all but one of the ambulance trusts in England have submitted plans for greater use of `solo responders'.

From next April, the ten English trusts will be expected to respond to three-quarters of the most serious emergencies within eight minutes of receiving the 999 call.

Currently, the clock starts ticking once details such as the name, address and what's wrong have been taken.

Critics said this process was often taking several minutes, hiding the true response times.

But Mr Bradshaw said changing the way response times to emergency calls were measured would save lives and would result in shorter waits for 999 calls to be answered.

He said: "This will not only save lives and improve patient experience, it will also ensure that trust resources are being used efficiently, that necessary investment in technology takes place, and that the workforce is developed both out in the field and in control rooms."

But some ambulance staff attacked the plans for greater use of `solo responders', saying such a move was an attempt to provide emergency cover on the cheap and that `solo responders' were not always appropriate.

Jonathan Fox, from the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel, and the driver of a solo-responder vehicle, told the BBC: "We are already hearing of solo responders transporting patients, but that is not right as you cannot manage the patient if you are driving.

"Solo responders have their place, but the emphasis now is on hitting the eight-minute target rather than what is happening once you are there."

Sam Oestreicher, from Unison, said the plan could `potentially put patients at risk'.