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Ambulance Service Faces Record Summer Demand
17 Jul
Summary
- South East Coast Ambulance Service demand up 16% from last year.
- Temperatures over 30C led to 78,000 calls in three weeks.
- Ambulance service urges public to call 999 only for life-threatening emergencies.
Demand on the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) has seen a substantial increase of nearly 20% since last year. The service, which covers Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, is anticipating this high demand will persist throughout the summer months.
Between June 22 and July 12, a period characterized by temperatures regularly surpassing 30C, call operators managed around 78,000 calls. This represents an 11,000 call increase, or 16% more, compared to the same timeframe in 2025. Additionally, NHS 111 calls in Kent, Medway, and Sussex also rose by over 10% to more than 72,000.
Secamb is appealing to the public to only dial 999 in genuinely life-threatening emergencies. The service is prioritizing responses for individuals with the most severe illnesses and injuries. For less urgent situations, callers are likely to be contacted by a clinician. John O'Sullivan of Secamb noted this as one of the busiest summer starts, attributing it to ongoing warm weather and school holidays, which are expected to keep demand high.
