Busy festive period for ambulances
ambulance
Ambulance crews were pushed to the limit over the holiday period – receiving half the calls expected for a normal day in the first few hours of 2013.
The New Year celebrations brought an influx of calls to the emergency service making it a challenging time for East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS).
“In the first four hours of 2013, we received over 1,000 emergency 999 calls,” said Peter Ripley, EMAS director of operations.
“On an average day, we expect to receive around 2,000 calls.
“I pay tribute to our staff who worked on the frontline – our skilled staff answering calls received in our emergency operations centres and our clinicians out on the road providing medical treatment and care.
“They did a truly magnificent job, in challenging circumstances.”
In the first four hours of New Year’s Day 1,074 total calls were received, with the total number of calls being received that day hitting 3,223.
Of those calls, 1,336 were for people reported to be in an immediately life-threatening situation.
However despite this high number, the service received more calls during the same period last year with 3,436 during January 1, 2012.
Mr Ripley added: “The festive season may be over, however we expect to continue to receive significant call numbers over the next few weeks and I urge people to use the right NHS services available to them for treatment of minor illnesses or injuries.”
Full details of local services can be found at www.nhs.uk
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Weather for Ilkeston
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
