East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) is encouraging the public to use NHS 111 online for medical advice, with demand for 999 calls increasing and ambulance staff helping more patients.
NHS 111 online service
The NHS 111 online service offers patients quick advice on the best option for them 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.
The call comes from local ambulance leaders, as demand for 999 calls rises. East of England Ambulance Service received 22,842 calls in the last week alone – 13.9% higher than in the same week in 2019, before the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Most 999 calls for non-emergency health issues
While call handlers have reported some 999 calls in recent days, most of them have been for non-emergency issues
While call handlers have reported some 999 calls in recent days, most of them have been for non-emergency issues, such as back pain, headaches and feeling sick. Patients are also being urged to only call 999 back, if their condition worsens – not to check what time their ambulance will arrive.
Tom Davis, Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, 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.”
Prioritizing the most sick and severely injured patients
He adds, “We are prioritizing 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.”
Tom Davis continues, “And, as has been the case throughout the COVID-19 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.”
The public is still being encouraged to contact 999, if they experience:
- Signs of a heart attack like a pain, like a heavy weight in the center of their chest
- Signs of stroke such, as the face dropping on one side
- Difficulty breathing
- Heavy bleeding that won’t stop
- Seizures
- Or sudden and rapid swelling of the eyes, lips, throat or tongue
Number of factors linked to the rise in calls
A number of factors are thought to be contributing to the rise in calls, including the warmer weather
A number of factors are thought to be contributing to the rise in calls, including the warmer weather, an increase in COVID-19 transmission rates in the community, and an increase in the public spending time outside, as lockdown restrictions ease.
The 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.”
Getting vaccinated to help reduce pressure on NHS
Anthony Marsh adds, “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.”