Shropshire Star

Shropshire 999 crews stretched during fourth busiest night ever

Ambulance services were left stretched across Shropshire after the fourth busiest night ever for 999 crews in the region.

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West Midlands Ambulance Service said levels had reached those only usually seen on New Year's Eve after more than 3,500 999 calls were logged on Saturday night.

Police cells were also almost full as officers were forced to deal with huge numbers of incidents on Saturday night.

A man was left unconscious and had to be treated by paramedics after being attacked in Shrewsbury town centre following a series of drink-related incidents.

A man has since been arrested.

Four people were also arrested for fighting in Howard Street at around 3.55am yesterday.

Another man in his late 20s was arrested for drink-driving in Shrewsbury. Police tweeted:

The ambulance service appealed to people to think carefully before dialling 999 after recording 3,550 calls on Saturday night.

The highest ever number of calls recorded was 3,822 on January 1, 2011, 3,754 on January 1, 2013 and 3,726 on January 1, 2014 – but none has ever been as high during the middle of December.

Craig Cooke, Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer, said: "Our staff are working around the clock to respond to patients but we need the public's help to ensure we're preserving our ambulances and highly skilled staff for the people who need us the most. Many people who dial 999 could treat themselves at home or access advice from NHS 111 either online or over the phone.

"Equally, people should consider taking themselves to an NHS walk-in centre, pharmacist or a minor injuries unit.

"This would leave the ambulance service to deal with life threatening illness or injury."

"It's continuing to be a busy weekend for the ambulance service, not only in the West Midlands but nationally too.

"I would like to thank all of our staff and many volunteers for their continued efforts."

Mr Cooke said the increase put pressure on front-line staff responding to patients in ambulance vehicles, as well as seeing Emergency Operations Centre staff working hard to ensure patients who needed help the most came first.

He said the huge pressure from the ambulance service also had a knock on event for their colleagues in Accident and Emergency departments around the region.

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