The ambulance service in the UK plays a vital role in providing emergency medical care to those in need. In 2020, the ambulance service received over 10 million emergency calls in England alone.
According to the latest data from the NHS, the most common types of 999 calls received by the ambulance service are related to medical emergencies. In 2020, medical emergencies accounted for over 75% of all 999 calls received by the ambulance service. These types of calls included cardiac arrests, strokes, and difficulty in breathing.
Other common reasons for 999 calls to the ambulance service included falls, road traffic accidents, and injuries from violence. Falls accounted for around 10% of all 999 calls, while road traffic accidents and injuries from violence accounted for around 3% each. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had an impact on the types of 999 calls received by the ambulance service. In 2020, there was a significant increase in the number of calls related to COVID-19, including suspected cases and confirmed cases with worsening symptoms.
These types of calls accounted for around 8% of all 999 calls to the ambulance service in 2020. The high number of emergency calls received by the ambulance service can place significant pressure on resources and staff. Ambulance services must ensure that they have adequate resources, including vehicles and staff, to respond to emergencies effectively. During periods of high demand, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, ambulance services may face additional challenges in meeting demand and providing timely care to patients.
In addition to responding to emergencies, the ambulance service also plays a key role in providing non-emergency patient transport services. This includes transporting patients to and from hospital appointments and transfers between hospitals. Non-emergency patient transport accounted for around 10% of all ambulance service call-outs in 2020.
In conclusion, the UK statistics on the types of 999 calls received by the ambulance service highlight the importance of emergency medical care in responding to a wide range of medical emergencies. The high number of emergency calls received places significant pressure on ambulance services, and it is essential for them to have adequate resources and staff to respond effectively.
By understanding the types of emergencies that require an ambulance response and working to manage demand effectively, ambulance services can continue to provide effective and efficient emergency medical care to those in need.