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Record 999 Calls Strain East of England Ambulance Service
20 Oct
Summary
- Nearly 100,000 calls received in September, a record high for the service.
- Crews spent over 18,000 hours waiting to transfer patients to hospitals.
- Service urges public to use NHS 111 for non-life-threatening emergencies.
The East of England Ambulance Service has experienced its busiest year on record, with September alone seeing nearly 100,000 emergency calls. This represents a significant increase from previous years, placing immense pressure on staff and resources. The high demand has resulted in extended waiting times for patients.
Crews are spending substantial hours, exceeding 18,000 in the past month, waiting at hospitals to hand over patients. This delay impacts the service's ability to respond promptly to new emergencies. The chief operating officer emphasized the need for improved patient flow within hospitals to free up ambulances.
The service, covering Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, is collaborating with other NHS services to reduce delays. They are preparing for increased winter demand and advise the public to call 999 only for life-threatening situations, directing other concerns to NHS 111.
