YESTERDAY saw a surge in calls to the ambulance service, with close to 4,000 people dialling 999 with health problems in the north west.

A total of 3,827 calls were made to the North West Ambulance Service on Monday, compared to 3,115 on the same Monday last year – representing a rise of 22 per cent.

There was also a rise of 24 per cent in the most serious calls, but many others were unnecessary.

In Cheshire, one member of the public cut their toenail and called the NWAS reporting that their toe was hurting.

Elsewhere in the north west, calls were received from someone who had swallowed chewing gum, another said they had ‘had the runs all day’ and one person reported a pain in their hand.

Ged Bleazard, assistant director of operations at the NWAS, said: “We are better resourced than ever before – last year we increased our frontline staff by 3.5 per cent and our call handling staff by 6.1 per cent.

“Even so, the rise in 999 calls is a challenge for us and when we have unexpectedly busy days it is patients who suffer.

“I have worked in the ambulance service for 30 years, starting out on the frontline myself, and I cannot understand why people call us for minor ailments which can be dealt with by either visiting a pharmacy, a GP or attending a walk in or minor injuries unit.

“The ambulance service is not a taxi or mobile first aid service – we are here for life-threatening or potentially life-threatening emergencies and those who call us for minor complaints will be advised to use the right service.”

Each call to an NWAS 999 centre costs the NHS £8.47 and can tie up a line needed by someone who urgently needs help.

Ged added: “We are here to come to the aid of people who are in urgent need but are consistently called for ailments such as these which we can’t deal with.

“Because of the sheer volume of calls, patients who really need us are waiting longer than they should do and our crews find this deeply frustrating.

“Our message to the public is that if your call is not urgent it would make more sense to seek advice elsewhere before calling.”