Ex-police chief takes on ambulance service

The service has been beset by difficulties since it was set up in 2006. Its response times to 999 calls are the worst in the country, with crews reaching only 71 per cent of calls in 2009-10 in eight minutes compared with a target of 75 per cent – leading to a warning from the Care Quality Commission it must hit the standard by October.

One of her first tasks will be to appoint a new chief executive. Health chiefs yesterday revealed current boss Martyn Pritchard will leave next month to lead a project in the region to reform urgent and emergency care.

Ms Cannings, who was chief constable from 2002-7 until she took early retirement on health grounds, said: "I am pleased to be appointed chairman of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and look forward to working with the staff to continue to develop and deliver a first-class service of patient care."

Her period in charge of North Yorkshire Police was clouded by controversy including a decision in 2006 by the force to spend 28,000 on a new bathroom suite for the office she occupied.

A report also found the force also spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on top-of-the-range company cars for superintendents even though some were rarely needed for work.

Her new role involves ensuring the service delivers high-quality ambulance services and makes the "best use of financial resources to maximise benefits for patients".

Response times failed to improve significantly during 2009-10 despite massive extra spending and hundreds of new staff.