New Year 999 calls for ambulance service drops, but Trust responds to more incidents

The East of England Ambulance Service Trust revealed that while overall numbers of 999 calls were down from the same night the previous year, it responded to more incidents – attending more than 700 call-outs.
Between 7pm on New Year’s Eve and 5am New Year’s Day, the Trust received 1,616 emergency calls, compared to 1,737 it received last year.

The number of calls peaked between 1am and 2am on the morning of January 1.

As New Year’s Eve is traditionally the busiest night of the year for the ambulance service, staff and volunteers had put in place a contingency plan to deal with the expected increase in calls.

Actions included extra staffing in the 999 control rooms and on the frontline, increased ambulance cover and working in partnership with other services to staff minor injury units across the region.

Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said: “I can’t thank our staff and volunteers enough for working through the night, allowing the public to see the new year in safely.

“I spent the night out and about meeting crews and saw at first hand how hard everyone was working, their commitment and dedication is truly remarkable.

“I’m proud of all our staff and volunteers who have been carrying out lifesaving work for patients and the public in the East of England over this Christmas and new year period.”

Advice on winter health issues is available on the EEAST website at www.eastamb.nhs.uk.