This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6418241.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Ambulance call-out figures soar Ambulance call-out figures soar
(20 minutes later)
There has been a large rise in the number of emergency calls to the ambulance service, according to figures obtained by the BBC.There has been a large rise in the number of emergency calls to the ambulance service, according to figures obtained by the BBC.
The increase in 999 call-outs is about a fifth in some areas, which the Ambulance Service Union says is placing extra stress on paramedics.The increase in 999 call-outs is about a fifth in some areas, which the Ambulance Service Union says is placing extra stress on paramedics.
The reasons behind the increase may include changes in doctors' out-of-hours cover, the union adds.The reasons behind the increase may include changes in doctors' out-of-hours cover, the union adds.
The official figures will be published in April. Last year's rise was 6%.The official figures will be published in April. Last year's rise was 6%.
But the BBC understands that this year the Scottish Ambulance Service will report a 12% year-on-year increase, while in the West Midlands and the North East the rise could be as high as 20%.But the BBC understands that this year the Scottish Ambulance Service will report a 12% year-on-year increase, while in the West Midlands and the North East the rise could be as high as 20%.
Chest painsChest pains
As well as changes to doctors' out-of-hours services, the Ambulance Service Union says more unnecessary calls and a recent British Heart Foundation campaign to raise awareness of chest pains could also explain the increase.As well as changes to doctors' out-of-hours services, the Ambulance Service Union says more unnecessary calls and a recent British Heart Foundation campaign to raise awareness of chest pains could also explain the increase.
Spokesman Ray Carrick said: "There's people thinking that in the night-time, perhaps, there's no GP service available therefore the only option they have is to ring 999."Spokesman Ray Carrick said: "There's people thinking that in the night-time, perhaps, there's no GP service available therefore the only option they have is to ring 999."
HAVE YOUR SAY Like any free at point of use services there will be frivolous call-outs Ian Yorks, Bradford, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Like any free at point of use services there will be frivolous call-outs Ian Yorks, Bradford, UK Send us your comments
Dr Mick Napton of the British Heart Foundation said the ambulance service was aware that its campaign to encourage people to dial 999 if they started suffering from chest pains would lead to more work for paramedics. Dr Mike Napton of the British Heart Foundation said the ambulance service was aware that its campaign to encourage people to dial 999 if they started suffering from chest pains would lead to more work for paramedics.
Despite that, he said, ambulance workers had given their full backing to the advice. "We're glad that more people experiencing potential heart attack symptoms are calling 999 - our campaign is designed to raise awareness of this crucial issue because we know from hard evidence that too many heart attack patients delay too long before calling 999, and many die as a result.
"By treating people sooner rather than later we achieve two things: a proportion of people who have a cardiac arrest die as a result of their heart attack for want of calling early enough. "It's important people get the message that, with chest pain, it's better to be safe than sorry.
"A proportion of those people may survive if they have access to defibrillation and emergency life support which paramedics can provide very quickly. "The campaign has the full backing of all UK ambulance services, who insist they would rather attend a false alarm than arrive too late to save a patient."
"And the second thing is that the sooner you get treatment for your heart attack the less damage to the heart there will be and less deterioration of quality of life for the patient."
Welsh emergencyWelsh emergency
Last month, the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a state of "special emergency" after record demand in Cardiff and the Vale.Last month, the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a state of "special emergency" after record demand in Cardiff and the Vale.
People were urged to dial 999 only in life-threatening cases after calls reached "unprecedented levels".People were urged to dial 999 only in life-threatening cases after calls reached "unprecedented levels".
The Welsh Assembly Government said it was monitoring the situation.The Welsh Assembly Government said it was monitoring the situation.
Last year's figures showed emergency 999 calls for ambulances reached a 10-year high of nearly six million in England during 2005-6.Last year's figures showed emergency 999 calls for ambulances reached a 10-year high of nearly six million in England during 2005-6.
Ambulance services attended 4.8 million emergency incidents in this period.Ambulance services attended 4.8 million emergency incidents in this period.
The figure was 6% higher than the previous year, and almost double the 3.2 million calls made in 1995-96.The figure was 6% higher than the previous year, and almost double the 3.2 million calls made in 1995-96.
The number of patient journeys increased during the year, rising by 4% to 3.5 million from 3.3 million in 2004-5.The number of patient journeys increased during the year, rising by 4% to 3.5 million from 3.3 million in 2004-5.