North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is under "extreme pressure" and has moved to the highest alert level.
NWAS confirmed yesterday, July 12 it was under "extreme pressure" and had been raised to its highest operational pressure level. The ambulance service is understood to be facing "extreme pressure" related to the ongoing heatwave with temperatures expected to rise again this weekend.
NWAS now stands at Resource Escalation Action Plan level four. Level four "indicates a potential for failures" within ambulance services as they try to cope with "extreme pressure," according to the national NHS framework. NWAS confirmed the escalation to the Manchester Evening News.
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A spokesperson for NWAS said the service would be "maximising all available resources" including "increasing staffing levels in emergency call centres and on the road". The spokesperson added the public should only call 999 for emergencies only and "consider if their GP, pharmacist or 111.nhs.uk could provide them with the medical help they need".
The escalation comes as patients struggle with heat-related illnesses. NHS sources told the M.E.N the warm weather sees "lots more respiratory illnesses and that's why the service has been escalated".
Yesterday the Met Office extended its danger-to-life warning for extreme heat. The rare warning said there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness as a result of the scorching temperatures.
Temperatures are expected to reach around 30C on Sunday and Monday. The Met Office said: "Some exceptionally high temperatures are possible and cumulative effects of warm nights and hot days are expected to bring widespread impacts to people and infrastructure."
The Health Service Journal reported all 10 of the country's ambulance services have also been raised to the highest level because of the extreme temperatures.
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