Extreme heat leads South Central Ambulance Service to declare critical incident
Specialist patient needs and increased calls has forced them to declare the critical incident
South Central Ambulance Service has declared a critical incident as extreme heat conditions lead to extended response times and heightened demand for emergency services.
The declaration was made at 11:30 today (25th June 2026), as the service struggled to meet increased call volumes and patient acuity needs.
High temperatures have placed significant pressure on other NHS services, with some demand being diverted to the ambulance service, complicating handovers at emergency departments.
In response to the crisis, a critical incident response cell has been established to prioritise actions.
The service is boosting crew capacity by adding shifts and overtime, redeploying operational staff from non-essential tasks to frontline shifts, and ensuring maximum fleet availability.
Mark Ainsworth, Executive Director of Operations, stated: “We continue to prioritise patients with the most serious injuries and illnesses, and our staff and volunteers are working extremely hard through the heat.
We recognise that response times are longer than they should be and that’s why we’ve called the incident, to ensure everything possible is being done to improve the position."
The ambulance service is urging the public to take precautions in the extreme heat.
They advise adhering to heatwave safety guidance and avoiding unnecessary risks, especially near water.
Checking on vulnerable friends, family, and neighbours is also recommended.
Emergency services should be contacted only for severe and life-threatening situations, while alternative options should be considered for minor issues.
In cases needing hospital care, individuals are encouraged to seek alternative transportation to avoid using an ambulance.
The service anticipates several days of sustained pressure even once the heat begins to subside and will continue efforts to return to normal response times swiftly.