With more than a thousand urgent calls to our 111 service over the Easter Holidays made for repeat prescriptions, South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) is urging the public to plan ahead.

Over the four-day weekend from 3 to 6 April, SECAmb can expect to handle more than 13,000 calls to its 999 service and 18,000 calls to NHS 111 – a service it provides across Sussex, Kent and Medway.

Last year alone, our 111-service dealt with 1,600 calls from people requiring repeat prescriptions.

Our 999 contact centre also sees calls increase over this period as access to primary care reduces.

With this in mind, the public is urged to look out for elderly or vulnerable relatives or neighbours over this extended weekend. With a high proportion of our lower acuity calls to people who have fallen, reducing trip hazards and providing clear and easy access around homes can make a significant difference.

SECAmb’s Head of Service for Integrated Care, Simon Clarke, who oversees the management our 999 and 111 contact centres, said: “Easter is a busy time for our service and our people do a fantastic job helping the many thousands of people who call for assistance. 

“By planning ahead, particularly around managing medications and choosing the right service, people can make a real difference. We want everyone to enjoy a safe and happy Easter and we appreciate the public’s support in helping us manage demand.”

Remember if you do call 999 you will receive expert help but depending on the severity of the situation, you may instead be supported by one of our highly skilled clinicians, such as paramedics, nurses or specialist practitioners, who can provide safe, effective care over the phone and help you access the right service for your needs. This ensures that ambulances can be prioritised for the most seriously ill or injured patients.

We would encourage the public to use NHS 111 Online (111.nhs.uk) for fast advice and guidance on the most appropriate service and if further help is needed, you will be guided on what to do next.

Top tips for when to call 999

If you think a patient is suffering from one of the following you must dial 999 for an ambulance:

  • heart attack (e.g. chest pain for more than 15 minutes)
  • sudden unexplained shortness of breath
  • heavy bleeding
  • unconsciousness (even if the patient has regained
    consciousness)
  • traumatic back/spinal/neck pain

You should also call for an ambulance if:

  • you think the patient’s illness or injury is life-threatening
  • you think the illness or injury may become worse, or even life-threatening on the way to the hospital
  • moving the patient/s without skilled people could cause further injury
  • the patient needs the skills or equipment of the ambulance service and its personnel