Ambulance bosses are scratching their heads about why they are having to respond to an ‘unprecedented’ increase in life-threatening 999 calls, including a 43% rise in ‘red calls’ for Cheshire and Merseyside last weekend.
Greater alcohol consumption over the festive period is clearly a factor but is not the entire answer as life-threatening calls have been rising beyond all expectations since the spring.
Steve Hynes, head of service for North West Ambulance Service, told BBC Five Live, he was at a loss to explain why there were apparently around 25-30% more seriously ill people overall, even allowing for the booze factor and, worryingly, before the sub zero temperatures really kick in.
He said: “It’s not just the festive period. We have faced this issue since around about May and we just ask people to be cautious in terms of when they go out to these parties and consume the alcohol that they do. It’s difficult to put our finger on what’s actually causing it.
“It’s not as if it’s been sunburn during the summer periods or people slipping on ice in the winter period.”
Asked by presenter Rachel Burden whether he thought it was something to do with the online ‘quick fix’ culture, Steve responded: “I think you may be hitting on something there – these expectations from individuals that they pick up the phone and they want to see a doctor with a stethoscope around their neck and unfortunately the NHS can’t deliver that.”
Steve said senior clinicians within the control centre operated a triage system to make sure life threatening calls were prioritised. He appealed for the public to take responsibility for their own health care by contacting their pharmacy or GP or using an NHS Walk-in Centre if they did not require emergency treatment.
Steve said the pressures were not just affecting the ambulance service but also A & E departments which, when busy, resulted in ambulances queuing up outside and being unavailable.
