South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb)
would like to thank its staff and volunteers for their efforts
during what was, as ever, an extremely busy Christmas and New
Year.

The Trust would also like to thank the public for the messages
of support it has received in recent weeks.

In the six hours between 10pm on New Year’s Eve and 4am on 1
January SECAmb handled approximately 1,000 999 calls – close to an
average of three calls a minute. Call volume was slightly down on
last year although ambulance responses to calls during this period
remained similar with 651 responses this year compared to 691
responses in 2016/17.

The night’s activity followed a number of days of heavy demand
during which all the Trust’s staff worked hard to respond to
patients as quickly as possible.

Staff in the Trust’s NHS 111 centres, which the Trust operate
across the region in partnership with Care UK,were also extremely
busy answering more than 5,300 calls throughout the whole of 31
December.

SECAmb would also like to praise the efforts and commitment of
its volunteers including its Community First Responders and
chaplain team.

SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie said: “Our staff and
volunteers work extremely hard and provide excellent care to
patients all year round but I would like to thank them for their
commitment and professionalism throughout the Christmas and New
Year period which is always very busy.

“I’m extremely proud of the service they provide and how
everyone rises to the challenge when we are facing prolonged
periods of pressure. I’d also like to thank their families and
loved ones. This time of year can be hard and we appreciate the
support they provide.

“I’d also like to thank the public for their continued support
and wish everyone a happy and safe 2018.”

SECAmb continues to be extremely busy and expects pressure on
the service to continue in the coming weeks. It is urging people to
remember that 999 should only be dialed in the event of a
life-threatening or serious emergency.

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

For further information on how to protect yourself and others
this winter please visit our website here:
http://www.secamb.nhs.uk/about_us/news/2017/help_us_to_help_you.aspx

Or click on the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/staywell/#d7bxHGEs0CmHyO1R.97