Welsh Ambulance Service urges public to ‘Choose Well’ ahead of August Bank Holiday

The Welsh Ambulance Service is urging members of the public to ‘Choose Well’ as it prepares for a busy August Bank Holiday weekend.

It is set to be a busy three days for the Trust, which each year experiences an increase in demand over the Bank Holiday period. As a result the Welsh Ambulance Service is stressing the importance of preserving the service for people facing life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest.

If you have a long term health condition which requires you to take medication, you are encouraged to make sure you have enough of your prescription to last the whole weekend as pharmacies will be subject to reduced opening hours or closed completely.

If you’re going away it’s important to know the full address you’re staying at and to check what medical facilities are in the local area.

Richard Lee, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Director of Operations, said: “August is a busy month for the whole health system as the number of visitors to Wales increases significantly, especially over the Bank Holiday.

“While we always put in place robust planning for busy periods, we need everyone’s help to make sure we’re there for people who are seriously ill or injured.

“If you arrive at hospital by ambulance and your call is not urgent, you will not be seen any quicker and you could cause a longer wait for someone who really needs the specialist clinical skills and equipment our staff carry.

“Please only call us if it’s an emergency and remember there’s a whole host of services available to you over the Bank Holiday.”

Bank Holiday weekends also result in an increase in alcohol related call outs for ambulance crews.

The Trust has a number of initiatives in place to mitigate the impact of such calls, including clinicians in police control rooms, the Police Joint Response Unit in Gwent, Cycle Response Unit in Cardiff city centre and Alcohol Treatment Centres in a number of towns and cities across the country.

However, Richard said the time of the service’s call handlers and crews could be better spent responding to other medical emergencies.

He said: “One of the most frequent reasons we get called on weekends and Bank Holidays is because someone has had too much to drink.

“We’re not killjoys, but we would ask everyone to drink responsibly. Make sure you have plenty to eat before you go out, space out your drinks and alternate them with soft drinks or water.

“Also, keep an eye out for your mates. Not everyone we respond to needs an ambulance, just a friend to look after them and get them home safely.

“Please remember that every minute we spend attending alcohol related calls is one we could be helping an elderly person who’s fallen at home, or someone suffering a stroke.”

If you’re feeling unwell and unsure what to do, NHS Direct Wales is available 24 hours a day by calling 0845 46 47.

There’s also your pharmacy, GP, Out of Hours service, opticians and Minor Injury Unit, where there is no need for an appointment.

The NHS Direct Wales website has a number of online symptom checkers for advice on common health problems, as well as a useful search facility to find your nearest Pharmacy, Minor Injury Unit or Emergency Department.