Bucks ambulance services "critical" (From Bucks Free Press)

Bucks ambulance services "critical"

11:12am Tuesday 22nd December 2009 in News By Andy Carswell

High Wycombe Ambulance Station was not gritted after the first snowfall last week

AMBULANCE services in the county are bordering on “critical” after crews received its highest-ever level of emergency calls.

Icy conditions have led to a 70 per cent increase in 999 calls to South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

And “hazardous” driving conditions were hampering crews in their efforts to get to patients.

The road outside High Wycombe Ambulance Station in Suffield Road was not gritted earlier this week, meaning staff had to work for three hours to clear the road.

Today the ambulance service increased its Resourcing Escalatory Action Plan rating – which states how busy crews are – to Level Four.

This means the service is under 'severe pressure, bordering on critical'.

Additional measures now in place are the non-emergency service to support urgent patient transfers, increased patient conveyance in ambulance cars where clinically appropriate, all clinical staff across SCAS to be available to work and support the frontline, and strengthening the role of clinical support desks in managing patient safety.

The Ambulance Trust has also strongly recommended people stay indoors and do not travel unless absolutely necessary.