20 per cent rise in calls for ambulances in Shropshire
Calls to ambulances in Shropshire have increased by nearly 20 per cent over the last five years, figures have shown.
West Midlands Ambulance Service has revealed it took 1,444 calls from Shropshire between December 9 and Monday this week – a rise of 18 per cent on the 1,220 calls from the same week in 2010.
The service also says it has experienced a "steep rise" in demand over the course of this year.
Spokesman Murray MacGregor said: "The rise in call numbers over the past five years was relatively steady at around five per cent per annum, but this year we have seen a much steeper rise with increases of up to 10 per cent.
"There is no clear reason as to why more people are dialling 999, although the increase in demand this year has been mirrored in many other parts of the health service, notably hospitals right across the West Midlands.
"At this time of year we normally expect to see a rise in demand due to colder weather having an adverse effect on people with long term conditions such as breathing difficulties. In addition, the festive period always brings more alcohol-related calls and it is also flu season."
The data also showed particular weekdays saw the highest increase in calls, with Monday and Tuesday figures both rising by 32 per cent.
In 2010 during this period, paramedics received 170 calls on Monday and 142 on Tuesday. However this year, Monday saw 224 calls and 188 on Tuesday. The rise in demand is in turn putting pressure on hospitals in Shropshire that today revealed were having to cancel planned operations to cope with emergencies.
Mr MacGregor said: "Our staff, on frontline vehicles, in the control room and those that support those rolls are working around the clock to respond to patients but we need the public's help to ensure we are preserving our ambulances and highly skilled staff for the people who need us the most."
Retired GP Charles West, who worked in both Church Stretton and Shrewsbury, said: "
Many people seem to be confused about walk-in centres, GPs and ShropDoc and end up thinking they should just call 999 – which has a knock-on effect on how busy hospitals are and the number of beds available."
