THE public are being urged to think twice before dialling 999 after East Midlands Ambulance Service
received a record 3,032 calls on Saturday.
The significant peak in demand saw the service busier than on New Year’s Day (2949 calls), making it the 5th busiest day on record and making it a real challenge for the services resources to get to
people quickly.
As Christmas and New Year gets closer, demand is expected to increase. Now, more than
ever, people need to use the ambulance service properly – only in an emergency, to allow us
to reach those who really need our help.
Andy Swinburn, EMAS Consultant Paramedic said: “The number of calls has risen along with
the number of ambulance responses made, however, the number of people who are being
taken to hospital has not increased which tells us that many people may be using 999
“We are receiving many calls from people who could have seen their GP or got same-day
treatment from a pharmacy, minor injuries unit, self-care or by visiting an urgent care centre.”
On Saturday calls included a patient with knee pain, a patient who had been suffering from
abdominal pain for 10 days without seeking medical help earlier, and a patient who had
woken up with a dry mouth and sore throat. Despite receiving an ambulance response, none
of these patients were taken to hospital.
“People who should call our service include those reporting an incident where someone could
die if they do not get fast help, this includes people in cardiac arrest, suffering a catastrophic
bleed, experiencing chest pain or who are unconscious” added Andy.
“Our team of highly skilled clinicians need to be available to help people in life threatening or
serious emergencies.
“Patients who really do need our help are treated as a priority, and people who are not in an
emergency, will be further down the priority list as other life-threatening emergencies come in.
It is also not true that arriving at A&E by ambulance will get you seen faster. Hospitals have
their own assessment systems in place and a patient with a fractured toe will wait just as long
as if they had made their own way to hospital.” Page 2 www.emas.nhs.uk
Please be aware of your local health services before you need them and get early advice
from your local pharmacy or GP should you start to feel unwell, allowing you to start treatment
and prevent your illness or injury from worsening. NHS Choices provides details of services
local to you via www.nhs.uk/service-search please take the time now to get informed and be
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