999 calls made for coughs and colds

THE Welsh Ambulance Service had to deal with 300 more calls than normal over Christmas after people dialled 999 for non-emergency problems such as back pain, coughs and colds.

It has urged people to think twice before using the 999 number.

The warning came after the ambulance service received almost 1,600 calls on Boxing Day which was 300 more than usual.

In a statement on Twitter, the Welsh Ambulance Service said some of these were for back pain, stomach ache, coughs, colds and shoulder pain “all of which do not warrant a 999 call”.

It added: “This tied up some of our ambulances meaning other seriously ill patients waited longer than we would like.

“Please think twice before you call us this New Year’s Eve.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service’s director of operations, Richard Lee, said the message was difficult to make but necessary.

“This is a difficult message for us but we must keep ambulances free for life threatening calls,” he said.

Mr Lee said the service had 150 ambulances and cars working yesterday.

Estelle Hitchon, director of partnerships and engagement at Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, tweeted: “We need to change our collective behaviours. Think about how you can play your part.”

In early December extra beds had to be opened up at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital to try to cope with an influx of patients and a line of waiting ambulances outside its A&E department.

It came as figures also showed a record year for visits to A&E departments in Wales. New analysis by the BBC suggests hospitals in Wales are struggling to keep up with demand.

There are now regularly more than one million visits a year to Welsh urgent care departments despite a population of just more than three million people.

And the numbers waiting more than four hours has jumped by more than two thirds (67.5%) in four years.

Jeff Morris, operations manager for Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, said at the time: “We can confirm that we’re experiencing a very busy day at Morriston Hospital and are working with hospital staff to prioritise patients with greatest clinical need and alleviate pressure.

“In the meantime, we would like to remind everyone of the alternative health services available, including the free 111 phone service, which can help to signpost patients in the ABMU area to the right service – for example, a GP, nurse, pharmacist or a Minor Injury Unit.”