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| 'Emergencies only' ambulance plea | 'Emergencies only' ambulance plea |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| People in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan area are being urged to dial 999 for an ambulance only in a life-threatening emergency. | People in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan area are being urged to dial 999 for an ambulance only in a life-threatening emergency. |
| The Welsh Ambulance Service says demand reached "unprecedented levels" over the weekend with twice the usual number of calls in south east Wales. | The Welsh Ambulance Service says demand reached "unprecedented levels" over the weekend with twice the usual number of calls in south east Wales. |
| A "major incident special emergency" has been called by the service as it investigates why demand has shot up. | A "major incident special emergency" has been called by the service as it investigates why demand has shot up. |
| However, officials said anyone with chest pain should call 999 immediately. | However, officials said anyone with chest pain should call 999 immediately. |
| Senior managers at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff were meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss how to cope with the increase in patients over the weekend. | |
| Meanwhile, St John Cymru Wales confirmed that three of its patient transport vehicles were at the hospital, at the request of the trust. | |
| We would ask for public understanding in these difficult circumstances Welsh Ambulance Service | We would ask for public understanding in these difficult circumstances Welsh Ambulance Service |
| Keith Dunn, chief executive of St John Cymru Wales, said: "We anticipate them being there until this evening. As far as I understand we're assisting getting patients out of hospital so they can go home. | |
| "This is something we do on a regular basis at the request of the trust. We have other vehicles available should the trust need them." | |
| Over the weekend demand in south east Wales remained high, with 1,400 calls. | Over the weekend demand in south east Wales remained high, with 1,400 calls. |
| Officials said demand was at a similar level on Monday. | Officials said demand was at a similar level on Monday. |
| An ambulance trust spokesman appealed for the public only to telephone the service in "extreme emergencies". | |
| He said: "We'd like to get a message out to the public that if it's not life-threatening then call NHS Direct rather than dial 999. | He said: "We'd like to get a message out to the public that if it's not life-threatening then call NHS Direct rather than dial 999. |
| "We would ask for public understanding in these difficult circumstances and would assure everyone that the service is doing its best to manage." | "We would ask for public understanding in these difficult circumstances and would assure everyone that the service is doing its best to manage." |
| The plea comes after a turbulent 12 months for the Welsh Ambulance Service. | |
| In May 2006, the acting chief executive, Roger Thayne, walked out after two months in the post saying the trust was in "crisis." | |
| He later claimed 500 people were dying each year because of failings. | |
| His successor as interim chief executive, Anton van Dellen, also resigned after two months in the job, saying he was unable to commit long-term to the post. | |
| In August, Alan Murray was appointed chief executive and said improvements would be made. |