AMBULANCE staff have been praised for the way they dealt with emergencies over jubilee weekend.
Phil Milligan, chief executive of the East Midlands Ambulance Service, praised staff and volunteers for the way they responded to a significant increase in 999 calls over the jubilee weekend.
Figures show that over the four-day celebration, EMAS experienced a six per cent increase in calls but still hit its performance target for responding to life-threatening emergencies – 75 per cent were reached in eight minutes or less.
Mr Milligan said: “While most people were celebrating the jubilee, it was business as usual on the front-line. We had extra resources to cope with the expected rise in demand and the fact we hit our targets shows we got it right.”
Monday was the busiest day when 2,387 calls were received – 25 per cent up on normal levels. A large proportion of the calls were for people with respiratory problems and chest pains as well as the expected increase in people suffering illness or injury by celebrating with too much alcohol.
Mr Milligan added: “As usual, our staff and volunteers did a fantastic job providing the best care possible.”