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East of England Ambulance Service Declares Highest Alert as 999 Calls Soar

The trust cites an early flu wave that is filling hospitals, slowing patient handovers.

Overview

  • EEAST moved to REAP Level 4 after sustained demand and significant hospital handover delays affected response times.
  • Nearly 24,000 999 calls were received in the week ending November 30, around 3,000 more than the previous week, rising to over 24,400 the following week.
  • Rising respiratory and viral illnesses, including flu, have left many hospitals at capacity, according to chief executive Neil Moloney.
  • At REAP Level 4, the trust is redeploying all available clinicians to frontline duties to prioritise the most seriously ill patients.
  • The public is urged to use NHS 111 for non-emergencies, stay up to date with vaccinations, and in some cases may be advised to self-transport where clinically appropriate.