Ambulance service critical incident stood down

A critical incident declared by the South West's ambulance service has been stood down - but staff said they were still "exceptionally busy".

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) declared the incident on Monday.

In the same week, all of Devon's hospitals also declared critical incidents due to "significant and rising demand".

Adrian South, deputy director of clinical care for SWASFT, said there was still a chance the service could go back into a critical incident "if we need to".

Critical incidents can be declared when services are so busy that special measures are needed to restore normal operations as well as keep patients safe.

Mr South said: "At times when we're exceptionally busy we need to make sure we use our ambulance vehicles for patients that need time critical responses in an emergency.

"For anyone that hasn't got a life-threatening condition, it's thinking carefully about what other NHS services are available."

It comes as NHS Devon confirmed Derriford Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E), Torbay Hospital and North Devon Hospital are experiencing "significant pressures".

A critical incident declared on Friday by the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board also remains in place due to a period of "sustained pressure" on services.

Mr South cited winter viruses such as flu, Covid-19, norovirus or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as one of the reasons for the extra pressure, as the patients were "poorlier" than usual.

Adrian Harris, chief medical officer at RD&E said ambulances were queuing on the forecourts and he was "desperate to change that situation and do it urgently".

He reminded people to "think carefully" about whether to attend the emergency department.

He said: "We are open for business and if you are really ill or really injured then attend the emergency department. But think about other possibilities."

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