East's ambulance service receives more than 22,800 999 calls in a week
People are being encouraged to use the NHS 111 service instead
People in the East are being encouraged to use the NHS 111 online service, as demand for 999 calls has increased.
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) received 22,842 calls last week.
That is 13.9 per cent higher than in the same week in 2019.
Call handlers have reported some 999 calls recently have been for non-emergency issues such as back pain, headaches and feeling sick.
People are also being urged to only call 999 back if their condition worsens – not to check what time their ambulance will arrive.
The 111 online service offers advice on the best option for people to get the care they need, including getting a call back from a trained clinician or nurse, booking them an appointment in A&E or providing advice on how to help them recover.
Tom Davis, interim CEO, said:
"Our frontline ambulance crews, 999 and 111 call handlers and the many other teams who ensure we can respond to patients as quickly as possible are working extremely hard as we see increased demand for our services.
"We are prioritising those patients who are most sick and severely injured and everyone who needs an ambulance will get one, however there are other and often better options for people to get the care they need.
"And as has been the case throughout the pandemic, the public can play their part by using 111 online for urgent advice, calling 999 in life threatening cases – and only calling back if their condition worsens - and by getting the covid jab."
But, people are still being encouraged to call 999 if they experience:
-Signs of a heart attack like a pain like a heavy weight in the centre of their chest
-Signs of stroke such as their face dropping on one side
-Difficulty breathing
-Heavy bleeding that will not stop
-Seizures
-Sudden and rapid swelling of the eyes, lips, throat or tongue.
The warmer weather, an increase in COVID-19 transmission rates and an increase in spending time outside as restrictions ease are thought to be contributing to the rise in calls.
National Strategic Adviser of Ambulance Services, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Anthony Marsh, said:
"This is a really tough time for ambulance staff, who are working round the clock to deal with an increased number of calls, and I’d like to pay tribute to their continued efforts to ensure patients get the care they need.
"With pressure on services still high, the public can help us to help them by using 111 online to get medical advice, and of course the most important thing we can all do at the moment is get the COVID-19 vaccine - both doses - which protects us, our families and friends and will help to reduce pressure on the NHS as well."