South Western Ambulance Service sees record 999 calls during heatwave
The South Western Ambulance Service reported record numbers of 999 calls due to the ongoing summer heatwave, putting huge pressure on the service.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The South Western Ambulance Service has reported record numbers of 999 calls during the ongoing summer heatwave, placing the service under unprecedented pressure. Paramedics and call handlers in the West Country are facing their busiest summer on record, with tens of thousands of tourists expected to add to the demand.
During the amber and red heat health alerts at the end of June, the trust experienced its busiest ever days, responding to more than 4,200 incidents on a single day on two consecutive days. Normally, the service responds to around 3,200 incidents a day. Patients over 70 accounted for more than 500 additional incidents per day, with crews responding to more falls, breathing problems, fainting, and heat exposure. Last month also saw a sharp rise in water-related callouts at beaches, rivers, and lakes, which went up by nearly half, with paramedics responding to 116 incidents.
A shift with paramedics in Somerset illustrated the intense pressure. Within minutes of a 12-hour shift, a call came in for a 53-year-old man in Taunton with an irregular heart rhythm. He was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital for a controlled shock to reset his heart. Later, the crew attended a 104-year-old woman, Barbara Jones, who had fallen out of bed and suffered facial injuries. Despite her disappointment at needing hospital care, X-rays showed no broken bones. Another call involved a cancer patient suspected of a morphine overdose, which turned out to be a false alarm, but the crew spent considerable time making him comfortable. The final trip of the day was to a 90-year-old man with a urinary infection and signs of possible sepsis, requiring a long transfer to hospital.
Paramedics reported that some members of the public are calling 999 for inappropriate reasons, such as sunburn, which adds to the strain. One paramedic noted an element of "compassion fatigue" from repeatedly giving compassion to people who do not actually need emergency care, which can lead to burnout and shorten careers. The service is urging the public to use 999 only for genuine emergencies to help manage the unprecedented demand.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Patients over 70 accounted for more than 500 additional incidents per day during the heatwave. | |
| South Western Ambulance Service reported its busiest ever days during the heatwave, responding to over 4,200 incidents on two consecutive days. | |
| Water-related callouts increased by nearly half in the last month, with 116 incidents. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on the frontline experience of paramedics and call handlers, using a ride-along format to show the real-time pressures of the heatwave. It highlighted specific patient cases, the emotional toll on staff (compassion fatigue), and the misuse of 999 for non-emergencies like sunburn. The tone was empathetic and concerned, emphasising that summer pressures have now matched or exceeded typical winter strains.
- “There's an element of like compassion fatigue. Giving that compassion a lot to people sometimes that don't actually need you can be quite testing.”
- “The recent hot weather has triggered a surge in 999 calls being answered here with paramedics sent out to thousands more incidents at the end of June during the amber and red heat health alerts the trust experienced its busiest ever days responding to more than 4 200 incidents on a single day on two consecutive days.”
- “Last month saw more water related call outs at beaches rivers and lakes they went up by nearly half with paramedics responding to 116 incidents.”
Broadcast Timeline
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