Ambulance service covering Buckinghamshire reports 20 per cent increase in calls to its 999 control room during cold spell
The ambulance service that covers Buckinghamshire has reported a 20 per cent increase in calls to its 999 control room over the past week, as the country is hit by a cold spell of weather.
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) reported 17,468 calls in the period from December 29 to January 4.
This was up on the previous week, the traditionally busy Christmas week, from December 22 to 28, when the service received 14,769 calls to its 999 control room.
The busiest day on New Year week was Friday January 2 when the trust received 2,708 calls, while the quietest day of the week was New Year’s Eve, when it received 2,224.
During Christmas week the busiest day came on Sunday December 22 when 2,379 calls were received, while the quietest came on Christmas Day, when 1,849 calls were made.
SCAS says that during this period it is prioritising calls to the most severely ill or injured patients, and is warning those with conditions that are not serious or life-threatening that they will face longer waits for medical attention.
Assistant director of operations for the Thames Valley at SCAS Kirsten Willis-Drewett said: "Whilst we aim to respond to less urgent issues within two to three hours, unfortunately for some patients over the last week, that wait time has been significantly longer.
"I would urge people who can make their own way to hospital or an urgent treatment centre to do so.
"Arriving by ambulance doesn't mean you get seen quicker than other patients, and a lift from a friend or a taxi may get you there sooner."
Over half of patients seen by SCAS ambulance crews and paramedics are then not taken to a hospital or other healthcare setting.
Anyone who requires urgent, rather than emergency help, is urged to call 111 or visit the www.111.nhs.uk website.
999 should only be used for a life-threatening or serious emergency, such as an individual not breathing or being unresponsive, severe blood loss, serious chest pains, symptoms of stroke, major injury or serious burns.
As well as Buckinghamshire, SCAS also covers the other counties in the Thames Valley of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, as well as Hampshire.