Press release: busy New Year for ambulance staff

The region's ambulance service thanked its staff and volunteers for their work in dealing with more than 1,600 999 calls during a busy New Year's Eve into 2015.

Whilst overall 999 call volumes were down on the previous year, the Trust responded to more incidents.

Between 7pm on New Year's Eve and 5am New Year's Day, the Trust received 1,616 emergency calls, compared to the 1,737 it received during the same period last year.

The number of calls peaked between 1am and 2am this morning (1st January).

New Year’s Eve is traditionally the busiest night of the year for the ambulance service, and the Trust had put in place a contingency plan to deal with the expected increase in calls.

Actions included extra staffing in the 999 control rooms and on the frontline, increased ambulance cover and working in partnership with other services to staff minor injury units in some towns and cities which were set up to treat revellers during the evening’s celebrations.

Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said: "I can’t thank our staff and volunteers enough for working through the night, allowing the public to see the new year in safely. I spent last night out and about meeting crews and saw at first hand how hard everyone was working, their commitment and dedication is truly remarkable.

"I’m proud of all our staff and volunteers who have been carrying out lifesaving work for patients and the public in the East of England over this Christmas and new year period.”