North West Ambulance Service highlight 'non-emergency' calls they receive

North West Ambulance Service has created a video highlighting some of the non-emergency 999 calls they received this year.

In 2019 North West Ambulance Service received more than one million 999 calls, but over a third of these were not for emergency situations.

37% of 999 calls were for patients who could potentially have been treated at an urgent care centre or by a GP, pharmacist or at home with a few days’ rest.

Over the last decade the number of calls handled by 999 operators has increased year-on-year.

Winter is always the busiest time for the service and they want to deter people from calling when it is not necessary.

Ged Blezard, Director of Operations at NWAS, said: "Our emergency call handlers are the heart of the ambulance service and their advice and guidance over the phone can often be the difference between life and death.

"We have created this video, which includes some of the most ridiculous calls made to our emergency number, to make people think about how these types of calls can affect the service and the situations in which they should dial 999."

Graham Lawrenson, Emergency Medical Dispatcher at NWAS said: "My plea to people is only to call the ambulance service when someone is seriously ill or injured and you think they could die, otherwise your call could be blocking the line for a real emergency."

Examples of genuine emergencies include cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, confused state, fits that aren’t stopping, chest pain and breathing difficulties.

For medical help when it is not an emergency, go to 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111.