EMAS Declares Incident Amid Surge in Demand Across Region
Written by HFM News on 27th May 2026
East Midlands Ambulance Service has declared a Business Continuity Incident following sustained pressure on services across the region.
The ambulance service says demand for emergency care has risen in recent days, partly because of the hot weather and wider pressures across the NHS.
The declaration means service levels are under significant strain and special measures are needed to help maintain patient care.
East Midlands Ambulance Service has declared a business continuity incident
EMAS has also escalated to REAP – Resource Escalation Action Plan – Level 4, the highest alert level indicating there is potential for failures within the service.
Ambulance crews are now being prioritised for the most serious and life-threatening incidents.
The ambulance trust says it is working closely with hospitals and other healthcare providers to improve patient handovers and ensure crews can return to responding to 999 calls as quickly as possible.
Members of the public are being urged to only call 999 in genuine emergencies and to consider alternatives including NHS 111, pharmacies, urgent treatment centres and GP services for non-life-threatening conditions.
