South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) has declared a critical incident due to extreme pressures across their services which have increased over the weekend and into this week as well as the impact of yesterday’s industrial action.
999 calls are up 50% on this time last year and 111 calls up 75% over the same period.
Staff and volunteers continue to work extremely hard to respond to calls and incidents and they continue to prioritise those patients with life-threatening injuries and illnesses.
They are asking the public to help at this time by using their services wisely and also utilising other healthcare alternatives including 111.nhs.uk for urgent medical advice and guidance wherever possible and appropriate to do so, as well as urgent treatment centres, pharmacists and their GPs.