Major ambulance service declares first ever critical incident as demand soars amid ‘danger to life’ flood warning

East Midlands Ambulance Service has declared a critical incident for the first time in its 26-year history.

EMAS had to put out more ambulance resources yesterday than ever before.

Due to an increase in patient needs, hospital pressures, and flooding, there has been a spike in demand.

The service, which is called out an average of 3,400 times a day, made the announcement amid a 'severe' flood warning for the River Soar in Leicestershire.

It said: "Declaring a critical incident includes a formal ask of partner services to take immediate action to help mitigate the risk for people in our communities, including rapid release of ambulances from hospital departments.

"We appreciate this will be challenging for hospital colleagues however, we need to ensure we have emergency ambulances available to respond to people waiting in the community where life is at threat.";

From the morning, local NHS Clinical Hubs will take Category 3 calls from EMAS and provide support and a local alternative NHS pathway for these patients.

This will allow EMAS to focus on responding life-threatening and serious calls.

It added: "All Category 3 calls from NHS 111 receive a clinical validation from DHU Healthcare before it is sent for an ambulance.

"Like many across the NHS, EMAS colleagues have been working tirelessly to respond to patient need.

"All internal actions and options to mitigate risk have been exhausted; therefore, a critical incident has been called to ensure mutual aid to support delivery of emergency and urgent patient care."

"Given the additional weather-related pressures being responded to by emergency services across the East Midlands, please act responsibly and do not take unnecessary risks."

If your illness or injury is not immediately life-threatening EMAS has asked to .