The ambulance service operating in Cambridgeshire has warned of high levels of demand across the region. The East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) recently moved to the highest escalation alert.
The Level 4 alert was put in place on Tuesday (December 31). It follows a sustained high volume of calls as well as a significant and sustained number of patients waiting to be handed over at hospitals.
Increased pressure at hospitals has also led to longer waiting times for ambulances to handover patients. The huge pressure means clinicians must prioritise those most in need, meaning some patients will face a long wait for an ambulance.
On Thursday (January 2), the trust confirmed that it was still incredibly busy at the moment. Members of the public have been advised to only call 999 in a serious emergency.
Simon Walsh, EEAST medical director, said: “There is an outstanding level of pressure on the whole health system in the East of England. We have seen a huge spike in demand, driven by an increase in respiratory illness, which means many of our hospitals are at capacity and our ambulance crews are stretched to the limit.
“What I urge the public to do is to think very carefully about using 999. If you have a medical emergency and need us, we will get to you, but there may be a delay. Many patients will be treated more quickly if they see their GP, use 111, or take themselves to hospital. Arriving at a hospital by ambulance won’t mean you’ll be seen any more quickly.
“During periods of high demand for our services patients with urgent and immediately life-threatening conditions are our priority. Those with less serious conditions will be advised that there may be a delayed response or, if it is safe to do so, they should seek alternative care. We apologise in advance to anyone experiencing delays.”
To get more breaking news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.