South Western Ambulance Service declared the incident at 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 482 patients were waiting for ambulances across the South West, with 106 patients awaiting handover at hospitals in the region. Declaring a critical incident allows trusts to prioritise the most vulnerable patients and implement additional safeguards to ensure patient safety. North East Ambulance Service declared a critical incident on bank holiday Tuesday for the second time in less than a week due to “unprecedented” pressure following the Christmas holiday.

On the eve of the Christmas holiday, the majority of ambulance services in England declared critical incidents. The South Western Ambulance Service serves a 10,000-square-mile area that includes Bristol as well as counties such as Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Cornwall, and Somerset. People have been advised to call 999 only if someone’s life is in danger. “If the condition of a patient is not life-threatening we may direct them to an alternative service. So, please assist us by obtaining the appropriate service for the care you require,” said Wayne Darch, deputy director of operations. “Please do not call back simply to inquire about the estimated arrival time of an ambulance. “We are unable to provide one, and it is blocking our lines for other callers,” he added.