South Central Ambulance Service under significant pressure due to high demand

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) has made an urgent appeal to the public to only call 999 if absolutely necessary.

The service has been under significant pressure for several months.

On Wednesday night (October 20), SCAS tweeted that due to high demand its call handlers were taking longer than usual to answer calls.

It said only people with a serious or life-threatening emergency should call 999.

The knock on effect is that more ambulances are then turning up at hospitals which is putting more pressure on A&E staff. 

The Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading is also feeling the pressure.

Record attendances have been reported in the past week, with more than 400 patients a day.

• Steve McManus, Chief Executive, Royal Berkshire Hospital

Steve McManus, Chief Executive, Royal Berkshire Hospital said: "Only yesterday I spent some time within one of our GP surgeries in Reading and what I saw first hand is our primary care colleagues, our GP colleagues, are also experiencing a significant overall increase in members of the community wanting their service. Particularly their urgent care, on the day services, as well."

The hospital has said the extra pressures are not caused by Covid alone.

The number of patients being treated at the hospital for Covid has actually decreased in the last couple of weeks.

However, Covid is a contributory factor and people are being asked to take up their vaccines when offered them.

Those with non-urgent conditions are being asked to think about other ways to obtain healthcare first, such as through their GP or local pharmacy, rather than heading to A&E.