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'Emergencies only' ambulance plea 'Emergencies only' ambulance plea
(about 3 hours 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.
David Lydon, the temporary director of operations for the south east region of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said they were facing an "unprecedented state of affairs".David Lydon, the temporary director of operations for the south east region of the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said they were facing an "unprecedented state of affairs".
I understand we're assisting getting patients out of hospital so they can go home Keith Dunn, St John Cymru Wales We would ask for public understanding in these difficult circumstances Welsh Ambulance Service
Mr Lydon said the weekend was the worst he had experienced, and could be due to the recent weather, or "various illnesses" that were going around.Mr Lydon said the weekend was the worst he had experienced, and could be due to the recent weather, or "various illnesses" that were going around.
"People who feel they should dial 999 should still do so," he said."People who feel they should dial 999 should still do so," he said.
"We're asking for their co-operation so that we can meet the demands that are being placed upon us and all our staff," he added."We're asking for their co-operation so that we can meet the demands that are being placed upon us and all our staff," he added.
St John Cymru Wales said they had been asked to provide six emergency crews to assist over night, in addition to three patient transport vehicles the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust had earlier requested.
Four of the emergency crews would assist in the south east area, and two would assist in mid Wales, according to St John Cymru.
Senior managers at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff met on Monday afternoon to discuss how to cope with the increase in patients over the weekend.Senior managers at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff met 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. Over the weekend demand for ambulances in south east Wales remained high, with 1,400 calls.
Keith Dunn, chief executive of St John Cymru Wales, said: "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."
We would ask for public understanding in these difficult circumstances Welsh Ambulance Service
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".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.
'Increased demand'
"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."
A spokesman for the Welsh assembly government said because of the bad weather at the end of last week, many patients who would otherwise have been released from hospital were kept in on safety grounds.A spokesman for the Welsh assembly government said because of the bad weather at the end of last week, many patients who would otherwise have been released from hospital were kept in on safety grounds.
"That, together with increased demand on the 999 service today, has led to increased pressure on both the ambulance trust and A&E departments," said the spokesman."That, together with increased demand on the 999 service today, has led to increased pressure on both the ambulance trust and A&E departments," said the spokesman.
"Trusts have contingency plans in place to deal with these situations and these plans have been activated in an effort to relieve pressure.""Trusts have contingency plans in place to deal with these situations and these plans have been activated in an effort to relieve pressure."
The plea comes after a turbulent 12 months for the ambulance service, with changes at the top in management, claims of crisis and response targets being missed.The plea comes after a turbulent 12 months for the ambulance service, with changes at the top in management, claims of crisis and response targets being missed.