EEAST declares a Business Continuity Incident

EEAST has declared a Business Continuity Incident for the second time this month as a consequence of 999 call volumes and hospital handover delays.

Declaring a Business Continuity Incident means we can ensure our resources are focused on patients with the greatest need, as well as allowing us to access wider support from our health and care partners.

Our staff continue to work incredibly hard in challenging circumstances, to respond to calls and incidents as quickly as possible.

If you need to contact us because of a life-threatening condition or serious injury, then call 999. For everything else, we would urge you to please use 111 online, speak to your GP or use a minor injuries centre.

Background

• A Business Continuity Incident allows the East of England Ambulance Service Trust to manage extreme demand.
• It makes certain actions possible, including asking NHS colleagues to make releasing EEAST crews a priority; prioritising the sickest patients and those unable to make their own way to hospital; and, cancelling some staff meetings, training and assessment.
• EEAST called a critical incident earlier this month on December 19, standing down again on December 21.