Urgent appeal for public to 'think carefully before dialling 999'

Think carefully before dialling 999 - that's the advice from the ambulance service across Torbay and South Devon due to the extreme demand it is currently facing following the four-day Christmas break.

Yesterday morning (December 28), there were 482 patients waiting for ambulances across the South West, with 106 patients awaiting handover at hospitals, says the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT).

And SWASFT declared a critical incident because the extreme pressures it is experiencing are affecting its ability to respond to patients.

Wayne Darch, SWASFT’s deputy director of operations, said: “Please help us to help the patients who need us most by only calling 999 if a patient has a life-threatening condition or illness.

"If the condition of a patient is not life-threatening we may direct them to an alternative service. So please help us by accessing the right service for the care you need.

“We are doing all we can to manage these winter pressures and we are sorry that we are unable to respond to some patients as quickly as we would like. We will get to you as soon as we can.

“Please do not call back simply to ask for an estimated time of arrival of an ambulance. We cannot provide one, and it blocks our lines for other callers.

“I’d like to reiterate SWASFT’s thanks to our people and all our NHS partners working to deliver the best possible care they can for patients over the festive period.”

Ian Curie, medical director at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The actions of the public will make a huge difference to our hospitals across Devon, and so we are asking that the public use the right service for their needs.

“We have to stress though, that if you are seriously ill or injured, you should call 999 or visit one of our emergency departments.

“We’d like to thank the public for their continued support and for continuing to be kind to our staff at this very difficult time, and we’d also like to express our gratitude to our colleagues across all health and care services, including the voluntary sector, who continue to go above and beyond for their local communities.”

Which service should I access?

• Self-care – visit NHS 111 online for self-care advice for things like grazed knees, coughs and colds
• Pharmacy – visit your local pharmacy for headaches, upset stomachs, aches and pains
• NHS 111 – visit NHS 111 online or call 111 for advice and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• GP – call your GP for symptoms that won’t go away
• Minor injury unit – attend your local minor injuries unit for urgent but not life-threatening conditions and injuries such as sprains, fractures and burns
• 999 – call 999 for life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, fits that aren’t stopping, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, severe allergic reactions, suspected stroke and serious head injuries.

What local people can do to help:

• Please only call 999 or visit the emergency department if you have need help for a life-threatening or critical condition. This includes chest pain, if you are having trouble breathing, a stroke, if someone is unconscious or has severe bleeding which won’t stop; having a fit that does not stop; a severe allergic reaction or have been involved in a serious incident like a road traffic accident.

• Urgent treatment centres (UTC) and minor injury units (MIU) are open and nurses can treat burns, broken or fractured bones, sprains and strains, and anything that needs stitching. You’ll also be seen far quicker than waiting in an emergency department – visit hospital websites to see how long you will have to wait.

Opening times:

• Newton Abbott urgent treatment centre is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

• Totnes minor injury unit is open from 8am to 5pm, seven days a week.

• South Hams Kingsbridge Minor Injury Unit 8.30am-530pm

Please don’t go to hospitals if you have Covid, flu, or norovirus - also known as the winter vomiting bug. These viruses can spread very quickly and can make the people we’re caring for – and our staff - very ill. If you do come to hospital, please wear a face mask, and wash your hands well and regularly.