Reuters UK
Copyright 2007 Reuters

LONDON — Seriously ill patients being driven by ambulance to hospital are more likely to die the further they travel, according to research on Tuesday.

The finding comes at a time when the government is looking to cut the number of local accident and emergency departments.

The risk of death rose 1 percent for every six miles travelled by patients suffering from breathing problems, or who were unconscious, the University of Sheffield researchers found.

Full Story: Researchers say more work needed on specialist regional centres