NORTH West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has declared a major incident this evening, November 2, due to a ‘high level of calls’.

The NHS Trust says people who are not suffering a life-threatening issue might be asked to make their own way to hospital or receive care from elsewhere.

“We’ve declared a major incident due to the high level of calls,” a spokesman for NWAS said in a post on Twitter.

“If your call is not life-threatening, you may be asked if you can seek an alternative source of care or make your way to hospital by alternate means.

“We are trying our best to reach patients as soon as we possibly can and apologise for any delays. Please bear with us.

“For medical advice, please go to 111 online.”

Northwich Guardian:

Above, the ambulance service has released this statement and says there is nothing to suggest the number of calls is in relation to COVID-19.

 
NWAS Unison, the union which supports ambulance workers in the north west, says staff are ‘run ragged’ and is urging the public to follow the advice.

“Please help our crews by only calling if you really need us,” a spokesman for NWAS Unison said on Twitter.

“They are being run ragged at the moment and they will get to you as soon as they can. Please consider using 111 first.”