{"id":39993,"date":"2025-12-02T05:14:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T06:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=39993"},"modified":"2025-12-02T08:23:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T08:23:42","slug":"ambulance-demand-spikes-as-flu-season-worsens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=39993","title":{"rendered":"Ambulance demand spikes as flu season worsens"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new\" class=\"sc-573fa0e8-0 bWRWzH\">\n<div class=\"sc-573fa0e8-1 bNZQpT\">2 hours ago<\/p>\n<p><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-2 sc-28fdc07f-5 sc-28fdc07f-6 fQbEOM dSGHyC kuBZLr\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-0 sjpOl\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-1 fpFxhF\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" data-action=\"save\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-2 sc-28fdc07f-5 sc-28fdc07f-6 ejnpYO dWrhlh kycDtY\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-0 sjpOl\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-1 fpFxhF\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-2 sc-28fdc07f-5 sc-28fdc07f-6 fQbEOM dSGHyC kuBZLr\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-0 sjpOl\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-1 fpFxhF\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" data-action=\"save\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-2 sc-28fdc07f-5 sc-28fdc07f-6 ejnpYO dWrhlh kycDtY\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-0 sjpOl\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-28fdc07f-1 fpFxhF\">Save<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gtLOOD\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6945f9a0-cec8-11f0-81f3-a1b2f542a1e8.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Getty Images Woman in bed coughing. There are tissues nearby. \" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\" \/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The number of 999 calls in London has risen over the past week, with London Ambulance Service (LAS) reporting its three busiest days of 2025 in a row. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">The service said the 20% increase included more calls from people with breathing difficulties due to viral infections and respiratory illnesses such as the flu. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">NHS figures indicate fewer than half of eligible people in London have had the free flu vaccine this season. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Experts have predicted the worst flu season for a decade, <a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c2dr8gzdz1wo\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 iCaRzc\">fuelled by a new type of a flu virus<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"sc-f98b1ad2-0 gXmhTb\">Christmas flu <\/h2>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">LAS strategic commander Laurence Cowderoy said the service had prepared for winter for many months, but still urged Londoners to &#8220;only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">He said the high call rate was &#8220;more typically seen on New Year&#8217;s Eve&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Operations to cope with demands over the winter period include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-6f869981-0 diUlgm\">\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">460 ambulances out on the road during peak demand<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">Use of AI <\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">More phone appointments <\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">A redirect system where patients are moved to ease pressure <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Karen Bonner, the regional chief nurse for London, said NHS staff had already seen the impact of the new flu strain with people coming into accident and emergency departments with symptoms. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">&#8220;We know it&#8217;s a pretty bad flu this year \u2013 we know that from seeing it in Australia and other places &#8211; so, we really want to protect people,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\"><b id=\"london-ambulance-service-calls\" class=\"sc-d16436d-0 gnUCoQ\">London Ambulance Service calls<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Thursday 27 November &#8211; <b id=\"7,356\" class=\"sc-d16436d-0 gnUCoQ\">7,356 <\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Friday 28 November &#8211; <b id=\"7,608\" class=\"sc-d16436d-0 gnUCoQ\"> 7,608  <\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Saturday 29 November &#8211; <b id=\"7,409\" class=\"sc-d16436d-0 gnUCoQ\"> 7,409 <\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">Sunday 30 November &#8211; <b id=\"6,776\" class=\"sc-d16436d-0 gnUCoQ\"> 6,776<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\"><b class=\"sc-d16436d-0 gnUCoQ\">(London Ambulance Service normally takes around 5,500 calls on a &#8220;typically busy day&#8221;)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 gXrNRM\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-5340b511-1 cMIbKV\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/grey-placeholder-2.png\" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 gUePlo hide-when-no-script\" aria-label=\"image unavailable\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/d1ea7530-cec8-11f0-81f3-a1b2f542a1e8.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Getty Images A queue of ambulances outside \" class=\"sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA\" \/><span class=\"sc-5340b511-2 jVqbAn\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-3b6b161a-0 dPVOKT\">\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\">NHS England reported 1.7 million people have taken up a free flu vaccination so far this season in London &#8211; about 46% of those eligible. <\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-9a00e533-0 eZyhnA\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/vaccinations\/flu-vaccine\/\" class=\"sc-f9178328-0 iCaRzc\"><b id=\"who-is-eligible-for-the-flu-jab\" class=\"sc-d16436d-0 gnUCoQ\">Who is eligible for the flu jab<\/b><\/a><b id=\"?\" class=\"sc-d16436d-0 gnUCoQ\">?<\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-6f869981-0 diUlgm\">\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">pregnant women<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">children with certain long-term health conditions (aged 6 months to less than 18 years)<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">primary &amp; secondary school aged children (from reception to Year 11)<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 years<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">everyone aged 65 years and over<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">individuals aged 18 to under 65 with certain long-term health conditions<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">care home residents<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">carers in receipt of carer&#8217;s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">those living with people who are immunocompromised<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-734a601e-0 cRgahm\">frontline health and social care workers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2 hours agoShareSaveShareSaveGetty ImagesThe number of 999 calls in London has risen over the past week, with London Ambulance Service (LAS) reporting its three busiest days of 2025 in a row. The service said the 20% increase included more calls from people with breathing difficulties due to viral infections and respiratory illnesses such as the flu. NHS figures indicate fewer than half of eligible people in London have had the free flu vaccine this season. Experts have predicted the worst flu season for a decade, fuelled by a new type of a flu virus. Christmas flu LAS strategic commander Laurence Cowderoy said the service had prepared for winter for many months, but still urged Londoners to &#8220;only call 999 in a life-threatening emergency&#8221;.He said the high call rate was &#8220;more typically seen on New Year&#8217;s Eve&#8221;.Operations to cope with demands over the winter period include:460 ambulances out on the road during peak demandUse of AI More phone appointments A redirect system where patients are moved to ease pressure Karen Bonner, the regional chief nurse for London, said NHS staff had already seen the impact of the new flu strain with people coming into accident and emergency departments with symptoms. &#8220;We know it&#8217;s a pretty bad flu this year \u2013 we know that from seeing it in Australia and other places &#8211; so, we really want to protect people,&#8221; she said.London Ambulance Service callsThursday 27 November &#8211; 7,356 Friday 28 November &#8211; 7,608 Saturday 29 November &#8211; 7,409 Sunday 30 November &#8211; 6,776(London Ambulance Service normally takes around 5,500 calls on a &#8220;typically busy day&#8221;)Getty ImagesNHS England reported 1.7 million people have taken up a free flu vaccination so far this season in London &#8211; about 46% of those eligible. Who is eligible for the flu jab?pregnant womenall children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025children with certain long-term health conditions (aged 6 months to less than 18 years)primary &#038; secondary school aged children (from reception to Year 11)all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 yearseveryone aged 65 years and overindividuals aged 18 to under 65 with certain long-term health conditionscare home residentscarers in receipt of carer&#8217;s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled personthose living with people who are immunocompromisedfrontline health and social care workers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38525,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39993","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39993","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=39993"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39998,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39993\/revisions\/39998"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/38525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=39993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=39993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=39993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}