The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging communities across the region to use its services responsibly this festive period, as it prepares for a challenging and busy time.
The Trust is expecting a period of significant and sustained demand across its 999 services - a position that is reflected across other health and care organisations locally, regionally, and nationally. Boxing Day is traditionally the busiest day over the festive break for the service. In response to this, Trust leaders are asking communities to ‘help us to help you’ by...
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urgently appealing to the public to think carefully before dialling 999 due to the extreme demand it is currently facing following the four-day Christmas break.
At 11:30 on Wednesday 28 December there were 482 patients waiting for ambulances across the South West, with 106 patients awaiting handover at hospitals across the South West.
And SWASFT has today (Wednesday) declared a Critical Incident because the extreme pressures it is experiencing are affecting its ability to respond to patients.
Winter is one of the busiest times of the year for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) – and we need continuing support from the public.
Ambulances must be available for patients who are facing a life-threatening medical emergency. To help with this, we are asking for the public’s support to ensure the service is used correctly.
You can help by choosing the right service to get the care you need:
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People in Devon are being urged to only go to their local emergency department in immediately life-threatening cases.
The NHS in Devon is under severe pressure at present due to several factors, meaning GP surgeries, hospitals, community health services, mental health services and social care are all extremely busy.
High numbers of emergency attendances, combined with the need for some health and care staff, or their children, to self-isolate and the impact of Covid-19 admissions are affecting services.
NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group’s Lead Clinical...
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is reminding people only to call 999 in a genuine life-threatening emergency this Christmas.
The trust is anticipating a high demand for the 999 service over the festive period, due to the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic alongside normal winter pressures.
It has dealt with around 2,650 calls a day so far this month, and expects the final nine days to be among its busiest of the year.
SWASFT has revealed another selection of inappropriate emergency calls made to its control room recently:...
The Chief Executive of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging people only to call 999 in a serious emergency – as it deals with a surge in demand. The Trust has experienced a significant increase in activity in recent weeks, with its people managing 20,154 incidents during the past seven days (11 to 17 September). It dealt with more than 2,900 incidents a day on Saturday and Sunday, which was as busy as a typical New Year’s Eve. Activity increased to a peak of 3,030 incidents on Monday, and is expected to remain very high this weekend. Will Warrender,...
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South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging people only to call 999 this Christmas if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.
Demand for the ambulance service is likely to peak over the next two weeks when staff are expecting to respond to more than 3,000 calls a day.
Paramedics and Control Room staff warn that unnecessary calls over the festive period could delay responses to those patients most in need of emergency help.
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