Ambulance Chaos Hits South West Amid Post-Christmas Crisis
South Western Ambulance Service has declared a critical incident at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday as it battles a severe backlog. A staggering 482 patients are waiting for ambulances across the South West, with 106 stuck waiting to be handed over at hospitals.
Critical Incident Declared to Prioritise the Most Vulnerable
The emergency declaration allows ambulance trusts to focus on the most urgent cases and roll out extra safety measures to protect patient care. It’s not an isolated case—North East Ambulance Service declared a critical incident twice in under a week following the Christmas holidays, citing “unprecedented” demand.
South West Ambulance Service Covers Huge Area Under Strain
Serving a massive 10,000-square-mile region spanning bristol/" title="Bristol" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Bristol, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Cornwall, and Somerset, the service is stretched to breaking point.
Public Urged to Only Call 999 in Life-Threatening Emergencies
Wayne Darch, deputy director of operations, issued a stark warning to the public:
“If the condition of a patient is not life-threatening we may direct them to an alternative service. Please assist us by calling the right service for the care you require. Do not ring back just to ask when an ambulance will arrive—it clogs our lines for others.”
The message is clear: only dial 999 if it’s a real emergency. Otherwise, use other healthcare options to ease the growing pressure on ambulance crews.
