Public urged to use 0845 number instead of 999

Date: 13/12/2011

Individuals have been reminded to call 0845 telephone numbers if they require non-urgent medical assistance rather than dialling 999.

In an interview with Luton News, associate director of emergency operations for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust Neil Storey explained how there has been a rise in inappropriate calls.

He claimed calling 999 instead of NHS Direct on 0845 4647 can lead to resources being stretched and "those who really need it" suffering when ambulances are delayed.

It was suggested that unless an individual is experiencing chest pain, severe blood loss, breathing difficulties, a severe burn, choking, fitting, drowning, a severe allergic reaction, a suspected stroke or is unconscious, emergency numbers should not be called.

Instead, people were advised to call NHS Direct which is a 24-hour service that operates seven days a week to give advice.

Elsewhere, five police forces across the north of England recently introduced a new non-emergency phone number in a bid to cut inappropriate 999 calls.