Tonight:
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'Only use 999 in genuine emergency'
Benedict Moore-Bridger18 Dec 2008
HEALTH chiefs today warned people against calling 999 unless it is a genuine emergency because ambulance services and A&E departments are struggling to cope.
Peter Bradley, the national director of ambulance services, said the entire health system is under pressure because of the winter illness season.
His comments came after the Standard revealed that St George's Hospital in Tooting was on "black alert" when it was forced to turn away sick patients and ambulances from accident and emergency after it ran out of beds.
Mr Bradley, who is also chief executive of the London Ambulance Service, said ambulance services in England have just had their busiest week ever.
He attributed this to the coldest start to a winter for 30 years, causing a sharp increase in falls and breathing problems, combined with outbreaks of flu and the winter vomiting bug norovirus.
Mr Bradley warned that things would get worse with a rise in drink-related accidents over the next few weeks. "It has been the most difficult 10 days I have seen in the last 10 years," he said.
Reader views (3)
'Only use 999 in genuine emergency'
Duh! I thought that was the idea in the first place. I may be mistaken, but aren't there already penalties in play for misuse? Are they being utilized?
- Rogan, Irving, 18/12/2008 19:39
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Again members of the public are being asked not to use the Ambulance service unless its really needed,and quite rightly so,but what annoys me,is when I watch these police documentaries,and it shows that if they are dealing with drunks,they call an ambulance and have the person carted off to hospital,they say the police do not have the resources to look after a drunk in the cells.so not only are the ambulances being tied up with this but also another hospital bed in A & E.
- Alfred Cochrane, London, 18/12/2008 15:26
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It's quite simple, just prosecute those abusing the service with a £1,000 fine, then maybe they'll think twice.
- Bob, Cheam, 18/12/2008 10:17
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