As the annual festivities approach, North East Ambulance Service and partners are urging the public to stay safe, celebrate responsibly, and to use NHS services wisely during Christmas and New Year.
The festive season is a time for celebration, but it’s also a time when accidents can happen more frequently including road traffic incidents, alcohol-related incidents and slips, trips and falls.
Head of emergency preparedness, resilience and response (EPRR) at North East Ambulance Service, Stu Holliday said:
“We want everyone to enjoy the holidays, but also to take steps to stay safe, whether it's on the road, at home, or while celebrating with loved ones.
“We know that winter is always busy for health services but particularly over the festive period and the public can help us protect the services for those who need it the most.
“Over the busy winter period, we can take around 3,000 calls per day on 111 which include cold and flu symptoms, abdominal pain and sickness and diarrhoea.”
The NHS also sees an increase in common illnesses such as norovirus, flu and other respiratory viral infections so the NHS urges those to get their vaccinations, utilise good hand hygiene, keep warm and stock up on medicines and repeat prescriptions before bank holidays.
People across the region are reminded to only 999 in an emergency or visit A&E if their condition is a threat to life or limb. For non-emergency cases, the public should continue to use other services including 111 online, GP, pharmacy first and urgent treatment centres.
Dr Neil O’Brien, chief medical officer at NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: "Firstly, I wish to thank all NHS staff across the region, who are working incredibly hard to ensure patients get the care they need.
"Like every festive bank holiday, ambulance and A&E teams find themselves under much more pressure, so we need to ensure that they can focus on patients who need help the most. Avoidable incidents during these times of celebrations are most often linked to drinking too much. This puts a major strain on all health services.
"I wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year, and kindly ask that you enjoy the celebrations sensibly and help avoid spending New Year in A&E."
"If you are seriously unwell over the next few days, it’s important that you get help. For anything else, please contact a community pharmacy, 111 online or by phone, an urgent treatment centre or your GP practice when it is open. Patients who come to A&E with minor problems should expect a long wait and may be asked to use a different service."
Stu added: “When someone needs our service, we want to have the right resources available to respond.
“We also ask that anyone waiting for an ambulance to please only call back if their condition worsens or to cancel if it is no longer required. Finally, please respect our staff and NHS colleagues, they are working hard away from their families this Christmas and New Year.”
Anyone needing urgent mental health support should ring 111 and press 2.
Find out more on ways to access mental health and wellbeing support this festive season: https://