Exceptional demand on Ambulance Services

For most parts of the UK, Christmas usually marks the beginning of the season for snow, unlike last year when snow fell before. Met office statistics show wintry weather is more likely early in the deepening cold of January. The last official white Christmas in 2004, we recall had widespread snow across Northern Ireland, Scotland, parts of Wales, the Midlands, Northeast and the far Southwest.

As Ambulance Life went to print a day
before Christmas, the public were urged to take care in the cold and to use
their Ambulance service wisely. On December 21st, the L.A.S. took almost
6,000 calls and attended 2,978 incidents,
normal level would have been 4,000 calls.
At one point, staff in the control room were taking more than 400 calls an hour!

All Ambulance services across the UK
were stretched. The Great Western Ambulance Service also experienced particularly high levels of 999-call activity during December with a dramatic increase in the use of specialist 4x4 vehicles to respond to incidents where weather conditions were severe.
South Central Ambulance Service NHS
Trust also experienced a dramatic
increase in the number of 999 calls
last month, by 70%. Off duty staff and
managers came to the rescue to meet
the increase in demand.

Voluntary Aid Societies, Co-Responders
and Community First Responders increased
support, whilst staff that were working
experienced extremely busy shifts in
hazardous conditions. The demand was so great SCAS escalated to REAP Level 4.
It is reassuring to know that the calibre
of personnel working in the Ambulance
service, often under great pressure, can
be relied upon to meet both natural
disasters as well as man made acts of
wickedness.

Spirit and camaraderie can never be
underestimated and here at the News
desk we will do our very best to report
on the attributes and efforts you put into
your vocation.

May we wish you a happy, healthy and
safe New Year and we look forward to
hearing from you throughout 2010.