The Welsh Ambulance Service has declared a "business continuity incident" due to the extremely high demand on its services. Known by many as "black alert," the Ambulance Service has confirmed it's currently unable to keep-up with demand for emergency medical care and support.
Despite extensive measures in place, medics have been "unable" to manage the demand for services - with more than 2,000 emergency 999 calls made yesterday (Saturday, December 10), including 200 "immediately life-threatening red calls". Plus, NHS 111 Wales received more than 10,000 calls yesterday, in what was the "busiest day ever" for the service.
Icy weather conditions across West Wales, the M4 and the Valleys have further exacerbated issues, whilst lengthy delays at hospitals has meant demand on the Welsh Ambulance Service has "exceeded its capacity to respond". As a result, some patients have had to wait hours and hours for an ambulance, a spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service has confirmed.
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Director of operations at Wales Ambulance Service, Lee Brooks said declaring a business continuity incident is "rare" and said management "do not take the decision lightly". Whilst the Wales Ambulance Service Trust is in the process of introducing "special arrangements" to help medics cope with demand, some patients are being asked to make alternative arrangements - such as making their own way to hospital, if possible.
In a statement released today, Sunday, December 11, a spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service confirms the Service has declared a "business continuity incident" since last night (Saturday, December 10) and recommends patients needing medical support "make their own way to hospital," if they can.
The full statement reads: "The Welsh Ambulance Service has overnight declared a 'business continuity incident' due to demand across our 999 and 111 services. Demand on the service increased throughout Saturday and Sunday morning, and despite the measures we can take, we have been unable to stem this demand.
"More than 2,000 emergency 999 calls were presented to us yesterday, a 17% increase on last week, and we responded to more than 200 immediately life-threatening red calls, while NHS 111 Wales received over 10,000 calls, the busiest day ever for the service.
"Icy weather conditions affecting West Wales, Heads of the Valleys, and the M4, have not helped our ability to respond. This, coupled with lengthy delays at hospitals across Wales, meant that demand on the service exceeded its capacity to respond.
"As a result, some patients have waited, and regrettably continue to wait for many hours for an ambulance. The Trust has put special arrangements in place to manage demand, including asking some patients to make an alternative arrangement, such as making their own way to hospital."
Executive director of operations, Lee Brooks added: "It's rare that we declare a business continuity incident and we do not take the decision lightly. Extreme weather, coupled with a high call volume focused on falls and breathing issues overnight, has limited our capacity to respond safely and timely.
“We are sorry to everyone who has had to wait longer for their calls to be answered, and subsequently wait longer for an ambulance to arrive. I can’t thank our staff and volunteers enough for doing all they can in challenging times."
Mr Brooks went on to offer medical advice to parents whose children are showing possible symptoms of Strep A, a potentially-dangerous bacterial infection that's been identified a affecting some children in Wales.
"It is understandable parents are cautious when children show possible symptoms of Strep A. The best place to start if you are concerned is our website (111.wales.nhs.uk) where information about symptoms and what to do can be found," Me Brooks said. "[NHS helpline] 111 is very busy and demand for those aged under 12 is very high. Please bear with us as we will get to these calls as quickly as we can. Only call 999 or go to A&E if:
- Your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their Tummy sucking under their ribs
- There are pauses when your child breathes
- Your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
- Your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake
“For anything else, please only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency – that’s a cardiac arrest, chest pain or breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, choking, or catastrophic bleeding.
“If the situation is not a life-threatening emergency, then it’s important that you use one of the many alternatives to 999, starting with the symptom checkers on our NHS 111 Wales website as well as your GP, pharmacist and Minor Injuries Unit."
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