EMAS Declares Critical Incident amid Soaring Demand

East Midlands Ambulance Service has declared a critical incident following a sharp rise in demand.

The declaration was made on Saturday afternoon after a sustained period of pressure on ambulance services across the country, including the East Midlands.

EMAS says demand for its services has increased significantly over the past 24 hours, with ongoing pressure across the wider NHS and the impact of this week’s extreme heat combining to create the situation.

East Midlands Ambulance Service has declared a critical incident

The service, which provides emergency ambulance cover across the HFM region, says it is working closely with NHS partners to reduce risks to patients and maintain emergency ambulance availability.

Measures include speeding up patient handovers at hospitals so crews can respond to more 999 calls, directing patients with non-life-threatening conditions to more appropriate services, and continuing to prioritise the most serious emergencies.

EMAS is urging people to use NHS services wisely, only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency, and avoid taking unnecessary risks during the hot weather.