SCAS faces ‘extreme pressure’

ALL AREAS: South Central Ambulance Service declared a critical incident this week due to ‘extreme pressure’ on its services.

It said that staff were working ‘extremely hard’ to respond to calls and manage the situation as it prioritised patients with life-threatening injuries and illnesses.

“If your situation is not a life-threatening or serious emergency then we will discuss your needs and provide advice,”

SCAS added in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday night.

“If your call does not require an emergency ambulance response then you could be asked to make your own way to hospital.”

SCAS added that declaring an incident of this type means it can focus resources on patients ‘most in need’.

“Declaring a critical incident means we are able to focus our resources on those patients most in need and communicates the pressures we are under to our patients and health system partners,” it said.

SCAS said critical status had been lifted yesterday (Thursday) afternoon, but it said pressures on the service and the healthcare system remain ‘significant’ and it will monitor the situation.