Ambulance service activates Major Incident plan due to volume of calls

The North West Ambulance Service has declared a Major Incident due to the sheer volume of emergency calls this evening.

NWAS guidance says: “An incident may be declared as a major incident if it causes a large number of casualties or is deemed to present a serious threat to the health and safety of the public.”

Meal breaks across the service have been cancelled and off duty staff are being called in where available.

NWAS said: “We have declared a major incident due to the high level of activity in the North West region.

“If your call is not life-threatening, you may be asked if you can seek an alternative source of care or make your way to hospital by alternate means.

“You can help us reach the patients that urgently need our help by not calling 999 unless the condition is life-threatening or potentially life-threatening, not calling us to find out where your ambulance is or calling to cancel any ambulance that you no longer require or feel is necessary.

“We are trying our best to reach patients as soon as we possibly can and apologise for any delays in our response. Please bear with us.

“For medical advice, please go to 111 online.”