Help Us to Help You this festive season
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is asking people across the South West to use its services wisely this festive season, as it anticipates a particularly busy and challenging time.
The Trust has already been managing extremely high and sustained demand on its 999 service this winter - a trend reflected across health and care organisations both locally and nationally.
With the period between Christmas and New Year typically being one of the busiest of the year, SWASFT is asking the public to help us help you by keeping the following guidance in mind:
- Call 999 only in a life-threatening emergency - for example, if someone is unconscious, not breathing, experiencing severe bleeding, or showing signs of a stroke or heart attack.
- If an ambulance response has been arranged, please only call back if the patient's condition worsens or if the ambulance is no longer needed. All responses are based on clinical priority, and teams are unable to provide estimated arrival times.
- Get your flu vaccine if you're able to - cases of flu are extremely high this year and vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of becoming seriously unwell.
- For all non-urgent health concerns, use NHS 111 online, contact your GP, or seek help from a local pharmacy for trusted advice. For minor injuries such as sprains, pains, cuts, suspected fractures or broken bones, consider using a nearby Urgent Treatment Centre or Minor Injuries Unit.
Dr John Martin, Chief Executive Officer at SWASFT, said: We want everyone to enjoy the festive season, but we're asking communities to use our services wisely. To ensure our teams can respond quickly to those in life-threatening situations, we need people to reserve 999 for genuine medical emergencies. For all other health concerns, there are excellent alternatives such as NHS 111, community pharmacies, GP services, Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres.
I also want to offer my sincere thanks to our dedicated staff and NHS colleagues who will be working throughout Christmas and New Year to keep people safe and well. If you do need their help, please treat them with respect and kindness they continue to work incredibly hard under significant pressure.
The public is reminded that calling 999 doesn't always mean that an ambulance will be sent or that patients will be seen more quickly at hospital. Ambulance responses are prioritised for life-threatening emergencies so unless a condition is critical, there may be a longer wait or clinical advice may be given over the phone instead. If unsure, NHS 111 should be the first point of contact for non-emergency medical advice, with GPs and community pharmacies available for routine care and treatment.
For more information and essential tips and advice to stay safe and healthy this winter, visit SWASFT's Winter Health Hub - https://www.swast.nhs.uk/winter-health-hub