Only call 999 if 'life-threatening', say East Midlands Ambulance Service

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) are asking people to only call for an ambulance if it is a life-threatening emergency.

Last month, EMAS reported the second-highest hospital handover times on record.

An average of 754 hours were lost every day while ambulances waited outside hospitals.

Ben Holdaway, Director of Operations of EMAS, said they are working with the systems to ensure that alternative referral routes are available and that people are using the right "pathways" when choosing alternatives to dialling 999.

To reduce the strain on ambulances, EMAS are asking people to look for alternative methods of receiving urgent care such as using the pharmacy or phoning 111.

They also ask that people only call back if the patient's condition has changed, and not to enquire as to where the ambulance is.

Mr Holdaway said: "There can be times where we're holding patients on the back of ambulances for a number of hours, waiting for the hospital to take the patient off our vehicle and for the staff to hand over to the hospital.

"We work very closely with hospitals. it's not a hospital issue or an ambulance issue. This is about how the system works together to improve all aspects of the health system. to enable better flow and improve referral pathways.

He said the strain on the service has been demanding on staff.

"We want to improve the working life of our staff who are working really hard under these very difficult situations."

Mr Holdaway said the priority now will be to improve workflow between ambulances and hospitals.

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