South Western Ambulance service seeks support during "unprecedented" demand
The service faced record-breaking calls due to extreme weather conditions
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is seeking public support to reduce pressure on emergency services, after experiencing unprecedented demand during the current heatwave.
On 25th June, SWASFT received over 5,200 calls to its 999 control rooms, managing more than 4,300 incidents—a record level for the service.
The period of extreme hot weather has led to significant increases in calls related to falls, breathing difficulties, unconsciousness, and fainting, all conditions frequently associated with prolonged heat exposure.
Pete Brown, Director of Operations at SWASFT, said: "We want to be there for everyone that needs us in a life-threatening emergency; to do this, we need to have our ambulances free to respond to those most in need. If you call us and we're not the right service for you, we will direct you to another part of the NHS - please listen to this advice, as it could mean that you get the help you need faster.
"We are receiving many calls for conditions such as sunburn, feeling overheated and mild dehydration due to alcohol intake. While these symptoms can feel unpleasant, they can often be managed safely at home or with advice from NHS 111 online or your local pharmacy. Every less urgent 999 call reduces our ability to respond quickly to someone whose life may be at risk.
"999 should be used for serious medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, chest pain, breathing difficulties, suspected stroke, loss of consciousness, choking, severe allergic reactions or catastrophic bleeding."
Pete adds: " We recognise that some patients are waiting longer than we would like, and we are sorry for this. Our people are doing everything possible to provide safe care under unprecedented levels of demand.
"Please do not call back to ask when your ambulance will arrive. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide estimated arrival times and repeat calls can delay our ability to answer other emergency calls.
"I would like to thank our staff, volunteers and NHS partners across the region for their continued dedication in delivering the best possible care under extremely challenging circumstances."
SWASFT is working closely with NHS partners to monitor demand and provide timely care during the hotter months, asking people not to call back for ambulance estimates, as repeat calls can delay other emergency responses.