Soldiers to help ambulance staff with staycation demand

SOLDIERS will help ambulance staff after an influx of staycationers led to two 999 calls every minute.

South Western Ambulance Service (SWAS) had a “substantial increase” in call-outs over recent months due to visitors taking advantage of the sunny weather.

The NHS Trust, which covers Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Devon and Cornwall called in the military after struggling to handle more than 3,000 daily emergency calls.

A “small number” of soldiers would help “alleviate pressures on services”, it added. The trust’s use of the military comes after it declared a “critical incident” due to “extreme pressures” in May this year.

The South West of England has been particularly popular for domestic tourists this year with around 400,000 expected to have travelled to Cornwall alone for the half-term break in May.

On July 18, the trust recorded its busiest day with staff responding to 3,522 cases in total, either in person or via the telephone – averaging two per minute.

SWAS has asked tourists and locals not to call for an ambulance unless their condition is “life-threatening”.

Wayne Darch, assistant director of operations, said: “With the NHS in the South West facing increasing demand, we are using tried and tested methods to alleviate pressures on services so everyone will continue to get the care they need.

“This includes a small number of military personnel to help us get more of our vehicles back on the road, getting people the urgent care and treatment they need sooner.”

Earlier this month, the South East Coast Ambulance Service also called for help from the Armed Forces to run its 999 service in the face of acute staff shortages.

A spokesman for SWAS said: “We’ve experienced a substantial increase in demand during recent months for a variety of reasons, including more people being out and about and visiting our region, plus more favourable weather.

“We’ve regularly been dealing with in excess of 3,000 emergency incidents per day, which equates to more than two new incidents every minute.

“These include, for example, patients having falls at home, being involved in accidents on the roads and elsewhere, and those experiencing breathing difficulties.”