The London Ambulance Service has urged the public to only call 999 in genuine emergencies after experiencing its busiest day since the pandemic. Call handlers received 8,121 emergency calls on Tuesday, approximately five per minute or one every 11 seconds, a 38 per cent increase on the 5,874 calls recorded the previous Tuesday.
The surge in demand coincides with a heatwave that saw temperatures peak at a record-breaking 35.1C on Bank Holiday Monday. The service attended the highest number of patients on the road so far this year, with paramedics responding to a rise in incidents involving breathing difficulties, dizziness, fainting, chest pains, and heart-related problems.
Alison Blakely, Deputy Chief Paramedic at London Ambulance Service, said: “We continue to be extremely busy with yesterday being our busiest day since the height of the pandemic. It was our sixth busiest day ever, and we saw record numbers of calls from 2pm until midnight.”
She added: “We want people to enjoy the weather but please take steps to look after yourselves and others around you. As the weather is set to stay hot for the rest of the week, our message to the public is to stay safe in the heat, drink plenty of fluids, avoid excess alcohol, stay out of the sun between 11am-3pm and check in on those who are vulnerable, including those over 65, young children and those with pre-existing health conditions.”
A UKHSA amber heat health alert remains in place until 5pm on Thursday.
