Ambulance service plea ahead of busy weekend

With many people enjoying a drink with family and friends, coupled with the on-going cold snap, Yorkshire Ambulance Service expects this to be one of its busiest weekends of the year.

Bosses are pleading with people to only call for an ambulance in a life-threatening or serious medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke.

David Williams, deputy director of operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “Whilst we have plans in place to help manage the impact of the additional demand this weekend, our resources are not unlimited and when our highly skilled staff are caught up dealing with people who have dialled 999 with minor illness and injuries such as toothache and earache, it can delay us in reaching someone who urgently needs us.”

The ambulance service is asking people with minor illnesses and injuries to consider the variety of other NHS services available to them for advice and treatment, such as pharmacies and walk-in centres.