East Midlands Ambulance Service received 1,055 emergency calls in the first seven hours of 2024 as both residents and visitors to our region celebrated the start of a brand-new year.
Over half of those calls were received by 3am in the morning, where our 999 control room had taken nearly 560 emergency and urgent calls.
Calls were for a variety of conditions including trips, falls and traumatic blood loss, in addition to injuries suffered because of too much alcohol – with a noticeable increase in these types of calls from 12.30am onwards.
As an ambulance service, we have regularly experienced daily 999 call activity exceeding what would normally be expected on New Year’s Eve alone. This reflects the immense pressure that the ambulance and wider healthcare system has faced for some time.
To allow our staff and volunteers to attend those who need emergency care in 2024 as quickly as possible, we ask everyone to use NHS services wisely. Look after yourself and those you love. Make use of services like pharmacies, NHS 111 and local GPs, to keep ambulances and A&E for life-threatening emergencies.
Strategic Commander, Greg Cox said: “As we head into the new year, we urge everyone to help us to help you, by supporting the NHS by accessing services wisely – whether that is through your pharmacy, your local GP, urgent care centre or calling NHS111 for advice.
“Our ambulances are for life-threatening medical emergencies, meaning someone who calls 999 with an urgent medical issue which is not posing an immediate risk to life may have to wait longer for an ambulance.
“This is because people experiencing a life-threatening emergency such as a cardiac arrest, where a patient isn’t conscious or breathing, need the life-saving equipment and people on board our vehicles first.
“I would like to take this opportunity to send my personal thanks to all our colleagues and volunteers, from the frontline and those behind the scenes, for continuing to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.
“Crews in our emergency ambulances and fast response vehicles, volunteer responders and teams in our Emergency Operations Centres have worked fantastically over the first few hours of the year.
“Additionally, the support they have received from our mechanics, support staff and administration teams has been equally impressive.
“I wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy new year.”
Help with less serious conditions is available from GP surgeries, pharmacies, Urgent Treatment Centres, visiting NHS111 online, or by visiting local walk-in centres.
Please only use 999 for urgent and immediately life-threatening conditions, such as:
- Cardiac arrest
- Suspected stroke
- Breathing difficulties
- Loss of consciousness.
- Chest pain