East Midlands Ambulance Service declares critical incident for the first time amid mounting pressures
The East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) has declared a critical incident for the first time.
It comes due to escalating pressures from unprecedented patient demand, hospital bottlenecks, and widespread flooding have overwhelmed the service’s capacity.
A critical incident is a situation where an organisation temporarily or permanently loses its ability to deliver essential services, potentially resulting in harm to patients or unsafe environments.
This is the first time EMAS has declared a critical incident.
Despite deploying more ambulances than ever before, EMAS says it can no longer meet the urgent needs of its communities without additional support. The declaration triggers formal requests for immediate action from partner agencies to mitigate risks to patients.
- Rapid release of ambulances from hospitals: Hospitals are being asked to expedite the discharge of ambulances from their departments, despite the operational challenges this poses. The aim is to ensure emergency vehicles are available to respond to life-threatening situations in the community.
- Support from local NHS clinical hubs: Beginning Tuesday morning, NHS Clinical Hubs will handle Category 3 calls (urgent but not life-threatening cases such as abdominal pain). This measure will allow EMAS to focus its resources on Category 1 (life-threatening) and Category 2 (serious) calls.
- Clinical validation of 111 calls: All Category 3 calls from NHS 111 will undergo clinical review by DHU Healthcare, the provider of 111 services, before being forwarded to ambulance services.
EMAS staff and volunteers have been working relentlessly to meet patient needs. Despite exhausting all internal measures to mitigate risks, the service says it has no choice but to seek external aid to maintain critical care services.
To ease pressure on emergency resources, the public is urged to use NHS services responsibly. For non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries, individuals are advised to seek care through alternative pathways, such as pharmacies, urgent treatment centres, or general practitioners.
Additionally, the public is reminded to take precautions in light of severe weather conditions, which are compounding pressures on emergency services across the East Midlands.
The service has been operating at Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP) Level 4 - the highest level indicating severe operational strain - since November 26, 2024.
Category 3 calls, as per the NHS Ambulance Response Programme, involve urgent cases where patients can often be treated at home. The target is to respond to these cases within 120 minutes, at least 90% of the time.
As the service navigates this critical period, EMAS is appealing for community support to ensure emergency resources are directed where they are most needed. By seeking appropriate care pathways for less urgent needs, the public can help safeguard life-saving ambulance responses.
For further information on NHS services near you, visit the NHS website.