Londoners urged to think before calling an ambulance as calls rise

Brixton ambulance crew member Leyla Sahebekhtiari says many calls are from people who do not necessarily need an emergency response

London Ambulance Service is asking members of the public to be sensible over the Christmas break as the number of emergency calls escalate.

A typical busy day in the capital would see about 5,500 calls to 999 - but the past few weeks has seen that number rise to nearly 7,000.

Patients with respiratory illnesses are increasingly common, the service says.

The ambulance trust said attending avoidable alcohol-related incidents could draw them away from emergencies.

Alternatives to 999

Londoners can go to an urgent treatment centre. They help people who need urgent medical attention but when it's not a life-threatening situation.

Conditions that can be treated at an urgent treatment centre include sprains, suspected broken limbs, cuts and grazes, and minor scalds and burns.

They are also known as walk-in centres or minor injury units.

Stuart Crichton says the ambulance service is prepared for a challenging winter

Director of 999 Operations at London Ambulance Service, Stuart Crichton, said they had extra control room staff on duty and additional ambulances ready to go.

"We have increased the number of ambulances on the road and crews caring for patients by 10% compared to last year.

"We also have more clinicians able to speak to patients who have called 999 to ensure they get the help they need.

"We also manage demand using some of our specialist resources including our mental health cars, our urgent community response cars and other support vehicles out on the road throughout the city."

Mali Quartly, ambulance crew at Brixton, says people sometimes call them as they do not know where else to get help

"It's frustrating when we go to people who could have taken themselves to hospital and control is calling us to go to another emergency job but we're tied up," said Mali Quartly, an ambulance crew member at Brixton.

"I've been to a couple of jobs recently where people are quite isolated and their family has gone away. They live independently but need care and need support but don't know what's available.

"So a few people have called us as a last resort."

Staying healthy at Christmas

London Ambulance Service recommendations:

Make sure you have the medication you need ahead of the long holiday weekend as some local pharmacies will have different opening hours.

If you need advice or medication from a pharmacist in London, use the NHS pharmacy finder to check which pharmacies are open near you.

If it's urgent, but it's not a serious medical emergency, consider other options such as your GP, pharmacies or NHS 111 online.

NHS 111 online should be your first port of call if you're unsure what to do or unsure whether to go to A&E.

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