Ambulance Service braces for increase in demand for New Year
Paramedics are urging people to stay safe and think ahead.
The North West Ambulance Service is preparing for a significant increase in demand over the New Year, with paramedics urging people to stay safe and think ahead.
Luke Mariner is a consultant paramedic for NWAS, he says the festive period often sees a sharp rise in 999 calls, many linked to excess drinking and flu related illnesses.
“When we start to enter that festive season, we get a compounded affect from people going out, having maybe too much to drink." said Mariner. "There are some key dates in there, New Years Eve, it's a specific one we will see calls spike after midnight."
The paramedic highlighted the importance of preparing well and understanding your limits.
"The main thing is around when your out, drink responsibly. Are you able to get home, are you dressed appropriately, can you look after your friends when you are out and about?
"When it comes to your new years eve, you'll start to see your alcohol related calls, your drug related calls, things like that. These can be avoided by people looking after themselves a little bit more when they go out for a drink.
"It's also wider than that really, generally just look after yourself when the temperature starts to drop."
The ambulance service has put extra resources in place in recent years to cope with the demand but reminds the public to use NHS services wisely — calling 999 only in genuine emergencies and seeking advice from GPs, pharmacists, or walk-in centres for minor issues.
"We've got increased resources, so we've more ambulances on shift, we have more people in call centres to answer calls and something that's really ramped up over the last few years is more clinicians in our control rooms.
"When you ring for an ambulance you may get a call back from a clinician, that's to make sure we get people the appropriate care."