West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed a change to the script that its 999 call handlers use, urging patients to get themselves to hospital during periods of surging demand.
A leaked internal staff memo sent on November 29 said category three and four calls those with urgent abdominal pain, who have fallen or are vomiting will be told: "The ambulance service is under significant pressure and we don't have an ambulance available to respond to you. It may be a number of hours before one is available.
"Is there any way you can arrange to safely make your own way to a hospital emergency department?"
This story is from the December 09, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the December 09, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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