The Welsh Ambulance Service has declared a "business continuity incident" due to the extremely high demand on its services. Known by many as "black alert," the Ambulance Service has confirmed it's currently unable to keep-up with demand for emergency medical care and support.
Despite extensive measures in place, medics have been "unable" to manage the demand for services - with more than 2,000 emergency 999 calls made yesterday (Saturday, December 10), including 200 "immediately life-threatening red calls". Plus, NHS 111 Wales received more than 10,000 calls yesterday, in what was the "busiest day ever" for the service.
Icy weather conditions across West Wales, the M4 and the Valleys have further exacerbated issues, whilst lengthy delays at hospitals has meant demand on the Welsh Ambulance Service has "exceeded its capacity to respond". As a result, some patients have had to wait hours and hours for an ambulance, a spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service has confirmed.
