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Amongst them was somebody who had chipped a tooth, somebody whose pet alligator had escaped and somebody whose finger was caught in a beer bottle.
One individual wished an ambulance as a result of they had been locked out of their home, whereas one other referred to as 999 for a toenail reducing mishap.
Of the 426,116 calls to the ambulance service final yr, 63,836 (15%) weren’t a life or demise emergency – a mean of 175 calls a day.
The Belief is reminding the general public solely to name 999 if somebody is significantly unwell or injured, or there’s a direct menace to their life.
Andy Swinburn, Govt Director of Paramedicine, mentioned: “Our emergency ambulance service exists for these whose life is in imminent hazard.
“That’s individuals in cardiac arrest, these with chest ache or respiration difficulties, lack of consciousness, choking, extreme allergic reactions, catastrophic bleeding or somebody having a stroke.
“Most individuals know the distinction between an emergency and one thing that’s simply uncomfortable or irritating, however not life-threatening, so in the event you don’t want that time-critical intervention, it’s actually necessary to use frequent sense and make the precise name.”
A brand new course of launched in December signifies that paramedics and nurses within the Belief’s management room now undertake a rapid clinical review of 999 calls to make sure sufferers get probably the most applicable assist.
These whose situation is instantly life-threatening will proceed to be despatched an emergency ambulance on lights and sirens as rapidly as attainable, whereas callers whose situation will not be as time-sensitive will probably be additional triaged by management room clinicians to determine probably the most appropriate pathway for his or her wants.
That might be sending a complicated paramedic practitioner at a scheduled time, a signpost to the affected person’s GP, self-care recommendation or one thing else.
Lee Brooks, Govt Director of Operations, mentioned: “Fast scientific screening is certainly one of quite a lot of new approaches we’re testing with a purpose to ship the precise care or recommendation, in the precise place, each time, in addition to enhance affected person security and high quality of care.
“With that mentioned, we nonetheless want the general public to take possession of their well being and wellbeing at a time when NHS providers are stretched past measure.
“We all know it’s complicated to work out the way to entry NHS providers and which healthcare skilled is finest positioned to assist, particularly if you or the one you love is unwell, injured and in misery.
“The NHS 111 Wales web site must be your first port of name for recommendation and data, or you can name 111 if it’s pressing, and our name handlers will inform you what to do subsequent.
“You can additionally go to your GP or native pharmacist, the place specialists in medicines can supply free scientific recommendation and over-the-counter medicines for a variety of frequent illnesses, equivalent to coughs, colds, rashes, aches and pains.
“At Minor Accidents Items, skilled emergency practitioners can cope with issues like minor burns, bites and stings, in addition to minor eye accidents.
“It’s additionally necessary to make sure you have a well-stocked drugs cupboard for issues which might be handled at residence, like minimize fingers, complications and sore throats.”
Chief Govt Jason Killens added: “The acute and well-documented pressures being felt by our pressing and emergency care system are usually not going away.
“We have to assume in another way about the way in which we ship ambulance providers, not least for our sufferers, who’re on the coronary heart of all we do, however for our system companions, whose assist and collaboration is vital to unlocking significant change.
“We proceed to develop our concepts and considering round how we do this, however within the meantime, we want the general public to assist defend our treasured sources for individuals who want them most.”
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