Wiltshire residents have been urged to use the ambulance service "responsibly" this winter as it prepares for a busy season. The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is expecting "significant and sustained demand" for its 999 services during the winter months. This is reflective of the pressure felt by health and care organisations both locally, regionally, and nationally, it said.
The expected rise in flu and other respiratory illnesses, coupled with a drop in temperatures and ongoing ambulance handover delays, is expected to further add to the challenges faced by the region’s ambulance service. Jessica Cunningham, executive director of operations at SWASFT, said: "We know this winter is going to be a very challenging time for us, which is why we’re urging local communities to use our services responsibly, and choose the right care for them. People have been asked to use the ambulance service responsibly (Image: SWASFT) "We want to be there for everyone that needs the ambulance service in an emergency - to help us achieve this we need to have our crews available for patients with the most life-threatening conditions.
"Please only call 999 if someone is seriously injured or ill, for anything else, please contact NHS 111." SWASFT has a winter plan and has asked people to assist by following certain guidelines. These include only calling 999 for life-threatening emergencies, and for non-life-threatening emergencies, people are encouraged to use NHS .
