South Central Ambulance Service seeks military help amid severe pressure

An ambulance service has asked for military support for the second time this year as paramedics face severe pressure on the frontline.

South Central Ambulance Service serves Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire.

It says September and October were very difficult months and many staff are now feeling the impact.

There are now increasing levels of staff sickness, with many paramedics being forced to finish work late and some missing meal breaks.

There have also been delays in handing patients over to hospitals meaning fewer ambulances ready to drive to emergencies.

Last month alone 6,500 hours were lost as paramedics waited to hand patients over to doctors at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

The service has put in a request to NHS England for extra support, which could come in the form of extra staff or military drivers. It is now awaiting a response.

It previously asked for military support in August.

In October the service declared a critical incident as it struggled to deal with the volume of calls.

Call centre demand is 50% above forecasted levels and 999 demand is currently around 13% levels seen in 2019.

Staff members from the patient transport service have been redeployed to assist emergency staff.

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