South Western Ambulance Service issues urgent appeal as heatwave drives record demand
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) had its busiest day on record yesterday (Tuesday 26 May), with ambulance crews responding to almost 4,000 incidents across the region.
The service is urging residents and visitors across the South West to protect themselves during the current hot weather and use NHS services appropriately, as sustained high temperatures continue to place exceptional pressure on the ambulance service.
Demand has remained exceptionally high throughout the Bank Holiday period. Between Friday and Tuesday, the Trust responded to 18,206 incidents, compared with 14,684 during the equivalent period last year - an increase of more than 24%.
The ambulance service is reminding the public to choose the right healthcare service for their needs and only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. Where appropriate, people are encouraged to consider alternatives such as NHS 111, pharmacies, GP services, and urgent treatment centres.
Members of the public are also being urged to take simple precautions to stay safe during the hot weather, including:
· Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated
· Wearing sunscreen and protective clothing
· Staying in the shade during the hottest parts of the day, between 11am and 3pm
· Avoiding strenuous activity during peak temperatures
· Checking on elderly relatives, neighbours, and vulnerable people
John Martin, Chief Executive at SWASFT, said: "We want to be there for everyone that needs us in a life-threatening emergency; to do this, we need to have our ambulances free to respond to those most in need. If you call us and we're not the right service for you, we will direct you to another part of the NHS, please do listen to this advice, as it could mean that you get the help you need more quickly.
"We are receiving calls for issues such as sunburn, feeling hot, and other non-emergency conditions that can often be managed through self-care, pharmacies, NHS 111 or other healthcare services. Every less urgent 999 call reduces our ability to respond quickly to patients facing life-threatening emergencies.
"999 should be used for serious medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, chest pain, breathing difficulties, suspected stroke, loss of consciousness, choking, severe allergic reactions or catastrophic bleeding."
Dr Martin adds: "Our teams are working incredibly hard alongside NHS partners to manage these unprecedented levels of demand, and we are sorry when we cannot reach some patients as quickly as we would like.
"Please do not call back to ask for an ambulance arrival time. We are unable to provide estimated arrival times and repeat calls can delay our response to other patients needing urgent help.
"I would like to thank our staff and NHS partners across the region for their continued dedication in delivering the best possible care under extremely challenging circumstances."
Which service should I access?
· Self-care - visit NHS 111 online for self-care advice for things like grazed knees, coughs and colds
· Pharmacy - visit your local pharmacy for headaches, upset stomachs, aches and pains
· NHS 111 - visit NHS 111 online or call 111 for advice and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week
· GP - call your GP for symptoms that won't go away
· Minor Injury Unit / Urgent Treatment Centre - attend your local MIU or UTC for urgent but not life-threatening conditions and injuries such as sprains, fractures and burns
· 999 - call 999 for life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, fits that aren't stopping, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, severe allergic reactions, suspected stroke and serious head injuries.
The Trust will continue to monitor demand closely and work with NHS partners across the region to provide the best possible care for patients throughout the period of extreme weather.
On Tuesday 26 May, the Trust responded to 3,941 incidents. The previous highest recorded day was 1 January 2026 when the Trust responded to 3,796 incidents.