Critical Incident Declared By South East Coast Ambulance Service

South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) has declared a critical incident after experiencing one of its busiest days of the year.

The ambulance service, which covers Sussex, Surrey and Kent, said the decision was made on Friday following several days of sustained and significant demand.

A critical incident means the service is under exceptional pressure, affecting its ability to provide its usual level of care.

At the time the incident was declared, there were a significant number of 999 calls still waiting for an ambulance response, including patients with serious medical conditions.

SECAmb said the pressures had been compounded by increased demand linked to the current hot weather, as well as ongoing challenges across the wider health and care system.

Strategic Commander James Pavey said:

"By declaring a critical incident, it allows our teams to focus our efforts on those patients who need us most.

"We are therefore focusing our resources on life-threatening emergencies.

"People contacting us with less serious conditions are likely to experience longer waits.

"We are asking the public to support us during this time by only calling 999 in a life-threatening emergency."

Anyone needing urgent medical advice for a non-life-threatening condition is being urged to use NHS 111 online or by phone.

SECAmb is also reminding people to stay hydrated, avoid the hottest parts of the day and take extra care during the current spell of hot weather.