'Take a car or taxi to hospital' says ambulance service as ice grips the Banbury region

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) has seen calls increase by a fifth in the last week.

In the last seven days there have been 17,468 calls (Dec 29 - Jan 4) to the SCAS control room. This compares with 14,769 calls over Christmas week (December 22 – 28).

With SCAS prioritising calls to the most sick and injured patients, the impact of the rise in demand has been felt most keenly by patients whose conditions are not serious or life-threatening.

Kirsten Willis-Drewett, assistant director of operations for Thames Valley at SCAS, said: "Whilst we aim to respond to less urgent issues within 2-3 hours, unfortunately for some patients over the last week, that wait time has been significantly longer.

"I would urge people who can make their own way to hospital or an urgent treatment centre to do so. Arriving by ambulance doesn't mean you get seen quicker than other patients, and a lift from a friend or a taxi may get you there sooner."

Over half of patients seen by SCAS ambulance crews and paramedics are not then taken to a hospital or other healthcare setting.

Kirsten said: "If you or someone you're with requires urgent, but not emergency help, please use 111.nhs.uk or call 111. Whichever route you take, you'll just need to answer a few questions about your main symptoms to get the information and advice you need. This could be directing you to the most appropriate local urgent healthcare service, or a call back from a doctor, nurse or paramedic."

You should only call 999 for a life-threatening or serious emergency, such as someone not breathing or unresponsive, severe blood loss, serious chest pains, symptoms of stroke, major injury or serious burns, SCAS says.

The Met Office warns that the current cold snap will continue, before a deep area of low pressure threatens to bring further snow, strong winds and heavy rain to southern parts of the UK from Thursday night. After a less cold day than recently, clearing skies and a scattering of wintry showers from this evening (Tuesday) will bring an ice risk overnight, especially on untreated surfaces.