EMAS Declares ‘Critical Incident’ Amid Soaring Demand
Written by HFM News on 7th January 2025
A ‘critical incident’ has been declared by the ambulance service covering Leicestershire and Northamptonshire amid a perfect storm of soaring demand and flooding across the region.
It is the first time East Midlands Ambulance Service has taken the step, which is the highest alert level used by the NHS and allows bosses to take immediate action to create capacity.
EMAS said the declaration was a ‘formal ask’ of partner services to help ‘mitigate the risk for people in our communities’.
This includes asking hospitals for the rapid release of ambulances from hospital departments to enable the service to respond to life-threatening emergencies.
From today, local NHS clinical hubs will be taking ‘category 3 calls’, such as abdominal pains, from EMAS and providing support for these patients.
Similar calls from NHS 111 will also receive clinical validation from the service provider before an ambulance is sent for.
EMAS is urging members of the public to use ‘NHS services wisely’ and to seek alternative care via a pharmacy, urgent treatment centre, or GP if their illness or injury is not life-threatening.
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