SCAS declares 'critical incident' due to pressure from Storm Eunice
The ambulance service covering West Berkshire has declared a 'critical incident' due to the demand on its 999 service combined with travel disruption from the impact of Storm Eunice.
South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), which provides the ambulance service for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire, said it is seeing higher demand above what’s normally expected at this time of year.
The service added that patients are being made to wait longer due to the disruption to the region’s road system through road, bridge and other closures, which was impacting the service’s response times.
Many roads across West Berkshire and North Hampshire are blocked after trees were blown over during Storm Eunice.
Assistant director of operations Paul Jefferies said: “Declaring a critical incident allows us to seek further support from our partners, and alerts the wider healthcare system to our existing challenges brought about by Storm Eunice in reaching patients as quickly as we would like.
“We will continue to focus on reaching those patients with life-threatening or serious injuries and illnesses first, and unfortunately there will be unavoidable delays in getting to those patients with less urgent needs for which we apologise in advance.
“We would ask such patients to help us by seeking alternative treatment or advice via NHS 111 online or by calling 111, local urgent care centres or speaking to your GP or local pharmacist.”
As part of its critical incident response, SCAS is ensuring all clinically qualified managers and supervisors are available to respond to 999 emergencies, and is requesting off duty staff to come in and work extra hours.
It is also mobilising additional vehicles from its South Central Fleet Services partner and utilising its committed volunteer community first responders and co-responders as much as possible.
The service said it hoped that once the worst of Storm Eunice has passed the South Central region, the level of demand will fall to expected seasonal levels and, with travel disruption reducing, the critical incident can be stood down.
SCAS last declared a critical incident at the end of October due to an "overwhelming" number of calls.
