North East Ambulance Service prepared and ready for Easter demand
Contingency plans are in place to help cope over this double bank holiday weekend
The North East Ambulance Service say they're ready for an increase in demand this Easter.
Contingency plans are in place to help cope over this double bank holiday weekend.
Darren Green, head of operations at North East Ambulance Service, said: "We do have quite comprehensive plans to accommodate that, whether that's through resourcing, communicating and signposting to the public about the services that are available to them throughout that bank holiday period and to really help the service by considering options they have available to them, such as pharmacies, GP services, NHS 111 online.
"We make sure that we have enough crews, we know we have enough staff within our call centres to respond to the anticipated increase in demand and we make sure that we essentially work with NHS partners and ensure that services are run safely to manage that demand and to also take into consideration the demands upon our A&E colleagues and plans are in place to effectively work through that.
"We ask the public to use NHS services wisely and only contacting 999 for life-threatening emergencies.
"For urgent but non-life-threatening concerns, NHS 111 Online is an excellent resource and has lots of advice and guidance on there and also over the phone through 111 and that can also help to get the right care quickly.
"Plan ahead, check that you've got well-stocked first aid kits at home or in your car so you can be self-sufficient with anything that's minor and doesn't necessarily require that A&E attendance or 999 calls, etc.
"Check the local pharmacy opening hours and essentially just take care over the bank holiday period. It's a time that, you know, just look after yourselves, just be safe in any activities that you carry out."