Heart attack patients in some parts of the UK are being asked if they can make their way to hospital after dialling 999, a report says.
A leaked West Midlands Ambulance Service memo details changes to a script used by 999 call handlers. They are now required to ask patients if they can get to the hospital without an ambulance.
The memo, seen by The Sunday Times and sent on November 29, reportedly says at times of high demand people with urgent abdominal pain or those who have fallen or are vomiting under category three and four 999 calls will be told the ambulance service is under “significant pressure”.
They will also be asked: “[W]e don’t have an ambulance available to respond to you. It may be a number of hours before one is available. Is there any way you can make your own way to a hospital emergency department?”
According to the same publication, the memo also states that when the ambulance service is under the highest level of pressure, the same request will be made for category two 999 calls.
These are patients who could be suffering from a stroke, heart attack or major burns. Such people should usually be seen within 18 minutes.
The report comes as a record number of people occupy hospital beds for this time of year because of a variety of illnesses and injuries, with England’s NHS hospital beds around 95% full.
“Skyrocketing” cases of flu, coupled with rising levels of norovirus and other winter bugs are already heaping additional strain on the NHS, health leaders have said.
NHS England’s chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, said the situation “was concerning”, adding: “We are heading into winter with a 350% increase in flu cases in hospitals, and an 86% rise in norovirus compared to the same month last year and that is with an average of over 95,000 hospital beds occupied each day, more at this point than in any other year.”
Health bosses have already warned hospitals that they are dealing with a “quad-demic” of disease, with rising levels of flu, COVID-19, norovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has told hospital bosses to put “patients ahead of targets” as they prepare for the busy winter months.
The Department of Health and Social Care said Mr Streeting has stressed to NHS bosses that “he does not want to see trusts prioritising patients who can be seen and discharged more quickly over those with the greatest clinical need”.
Ms Pritchard said NHS staff have worked hard to prepare for the winter, but the service knows more strain is to come. She added: “As always, the public have an important part to play in helping NHS staff over winter, by calling 999 and using A&E in an emergency only, while using NHS 111 to access the right support for urgent health needs.”
People who are eligible for a free flu jab or spray have been urged to take up the offer as soon as possible to help ease the pressures faced by the NHS this winter.
According to figures for the NHS in England, the number of people in hospital with flu has quadrupled compared with last year. An average of 1,099 flu patients were in hospital beds each day in the week to December 1, including 39 in critical care.
Currently, flu cases are highest among those aged five to 14, and health leaders warn that this could lead to a wave of adult cases “further down the line.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director for NHS England, said: “Flu cases are skyrocketing, so it’s now or never for older people and children to get themselves jabbed and protected ahead of any family get-togethers they have planned over the festive period.
“Every Christmas we see far too many older adults and children admitted to hospital because of flu, and the best way to avoid this situation is getting your flu jab if you are eligible.”
