East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has stood down the business continuity incident declared on Thursday 28 May.
The incident was declared following sustained pressure on services across the region, including a significant increase in demand for emergency care.
On Tuesday 26 May, EMAS handled more than 4,500 emergency 999 calls, one of the busiest days experienced outside of winter.
A spokesperson for the Trust said:
‘While the business continuity incident has been stood down, we know the pressures experienced over the past week remain.’
‘Our focus now is on recovery – improving response times and reducing the waits patients have experienced across our communities, while continuing to prioritise the most life-threatening and serious incidents.
‘This will be supported by continued senior oversight and co-ordination over the coming weeks.
‘We would like to thank our staff and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly during this period to continue supporting patients across the region, and our NHS partners for their continued support despite the significant pressures they are also facing.
‘Members of the public are asked to continue supporting us during this period.
‘999 should always be used when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
‘If your condition is not life-threatening, other NHS services may be able to help you more effectively, including:
• NHS 111
• Local pharmacies
• Urgent Treatment Centres
• Your GP
Choosing the most appropriate service helps ensure ambulances are available for those who need them most.
