Key Role of the UK Ambulance Service
The UK ambulance service is an integral part of the nation’s healthcare system, dedicated to providing emergency medical care to those in need.
Emergency Call Statistics in 2020
In 2020, the ambulance service in England received over 10 million emergency calls, highlighting its critical role in healthcare emergencies.
Common Types of Emergency Calls
Ambulance statistics in accordance with NHS data, medical emergencies represent the majority of 999 calls. In 2020, these emergencies accounted for over 75% of all calls, including life-threatening conditions like cardiac arrests, strokes, and respiratory difficulties.
Other Emergency Situations
Calls related to falls, road traffic accidents, and injuries from violence are also common. Falls comprised approximately 10% of calls, with traffic incidents and violence-related injuries each constituting about 3%.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The pandemic significantly altered the pattern of emergency calls. In 2020, around 8% of calls were related to COVID-19 symptoms.
Non-Emergency Patient Transport
Beyond emergency responses, the service also provides non-emergency patient transport, essential for hospital appointments and inter-hospital transfers, accounting for around 10% of call-outs in 2020.