AMBULANCE crews received four 999 calls a minute at the start of 2014.

The number of emergency calls steadily increased on New Year's Eve as the time crept closer towards midnight.


In the last four hours of 2013 (from 8pm to midnight), West Midlands Ambulance Service received 1,875 calls - during the same period last year, there were 638.

Of these calls 389 came from the Black Country.

A large proportion of calls were alcohol-related and included assaults, overdoses, road traffic collisions and falls.

The peak rate of calls came in between 1am and 2am.

Chief executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “It’s thanks to the meticulous planning, hard work and dedication of staff on New Year’s Eve that we’re able to continue to provide patients in the West Midlands with high level care when they need it the most.

“New Year’s Eve is traditionally the busiest night of the year for the ambulance service. This year has been no exception and I am immensely proud of the way the service has dealt with the surge in 999 calls."