The region's ambulance service has issued yet another plea to the public ahead of the final weekend before Christmas. For the second time this week, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) says more than 600 patients in the North West are waiting for ambulances this evening (December 16).
It comes days after one of the NHS trust's bosses issued a personal plea in the cold, delivering an 'urgent message for the public' amid surging 999 demand. Tonight there is a similar message, with hundreds currently waiting for support.
A spokesperson for NWAS wrote on Twitter: "Please stop and think before calling 999 tonight! Once again this week we have more than 600 patients waiting for ambulances and we are really sorry that we cannot respond as quickly as our patients expect.