MP urges people to think before calling 999 (From Halesowen News)

MP urges people to think before calling 999

10:00am Monday 15th December 2008

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Cradley MP Lynda Waltho is backing pleas by paramedics urging people only to call 999 in a real emergency after seeing first-hand how stretched the ambulance service is in the run-up to Christmas.

West Midlands Ambulance Service is appealing to people to use the service sensibly.

The call comes after figures showed December 8 was busier than last New Years Eve - traditionally one of the busiest days of the year - receiving 1,039 calls across Birmingham and the Black Country compared to 997 on December 31, 2007.

The Trust said staff are being put under enormous pressure due to the dramatic rise in 999 calls - dealing with not just emergencies but people who have stubbed their toe or have a nosebleed.

After spending a 12-hour shift with an ambulance crew this month MP Lynda was full of praise for the medics. But she was concerned about the number of minor health scares the ambulance was called to.

She said: “It looks to me that people don’t really realise what an emergency is.

“Out of about 12 or 13 incidents there were really about three that turned out to be true emergencies - but the service has to err on the side of caution.”

Anthony Marsh, chief executive of West Midlands Ambulance Service, echoed her thoughts, saying: “Our staff are performing near miracles to keep the 999 service as safe as possible, but it has got to the stage where the system will become unsafe unless there's a significant change.

“We are still getting too many people calling us for conditions such stubbed toes, paper cuts to fingers, nose bleeds and people who say they have chest pains when it is in fact their stomach.

“Our staff are all too often left stunned when they find a patient who has a minor condition who could have got treatment at a range of facilities other than a hospital's A&E Department."

He urged people to use common sense and other health resources before dialing 999, unless their condition requires urgent medical assistance.

He stressed that patients do not get seen quicker at A&E if they arrive by ambulance.

For advice call NHS Direct for advice on 0845 46 47 or log onto the website at nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

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