Statement from London Ambulance Service as 999 calls rise 20% in a week

London Ambulance Service Strategic Commander Laurence Cowderoy said:

“We are currently extremely busy and for the last two days have received the number of 999 calls more typically seen on New Year’s Eve, and 20% higher than this time last week. This weekend is looking just as challenging as we work to reach everyone who needs our help as quickly as possible.

“We have been preparing for winter with our NHS partners for many months. Now it has arrived, I’m asking all Londoners this weekend to help us by only calling 999 in a life-threatening emergency. For urgent but less serious medical needs, please consider using your pharmacy, GP, or NHS 111 online to get advice or treatment.

“The 111 service is also very pressured today, with people seeking repeat prescriptions or advice for colds and flu. If you don’t have an immediate need to renew your prescription, please consider contacting your GP instead. Similarly, most colds and flu are caused by viruses, and the best place to get quick help is your local pharmacy. If you’re still worried after talking to your pharmacist you can contact the 111 service for further advice, but please use 111 online in the first instance.”

On Thursday LAS received 7,356 999 calls and on Friday 7,608 999 calls compared with around 5,500 on a typically busy day. Friday’s total was more than 20% higher than on the previous Friday (6,392). These compare with volumes usually seen on New Year’s Eve, often the Service’s busiest day of the year.

We are seeing an increase in people who have fallen or have breathing difficulties as rates of viral infections and respiratory illnesses rise. Our 111 service is also taking a lot of calls seeking advice around colds and flu.

In the past week, London Ambulance Service stepped up its operations for winter as 999 calls start to climb. London Ambulance Service has been working closely with partners in the capital since the summer – earlier than ever before – to plan a city-wide approach to winter.

The resulting Winter Plan includes:

• LAS putting 460 ambulances out on the road during peak demand;
• Innovative ways of caring for patients such as the use of AI
• more clinicians treating patients over the phone to avoid busy emergency departments.
• Supporting hospitals by putting in place measures, such as redirects when they are under pressure and when other hospitals nearby may be able to better care for them