London Ambulance Service hits busiest day on record

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) faced its busiest day on record on Friday as extreme heat continued across the capital, declaring a critical incident due to the pressure on the service.

Call handlers took 8,869 emergency calls in a single day and between 18:00 BST and midnight, they were answering more than 500 calls an hour.

Ambulances were dispatched to 688 Category 1 emergencies – the highest number ever recorded in one day. These include the most serious incidents, such as cardiac arrest or patients not breathing.

Friday was confirmed by the Met Office as the UK's hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 37.3C recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk.

As June heat records were successively broken on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the London Ambulance Service also saw its busiest days on record follow the same pattern.

Pressure peaked through the evening yesterday, leading to the LAS declaring a critical incident between 22:00 and 01:30.

During this period, additional measures were put in place to protect patient safety. More patients were treated over the phone or directed to other NHS services where appropriate.

The service also worked with hospitals across London to speed up ambulance handovers and return crews to the road more quickly.

Craig Harman, Chief Operating Officer at London Ambulance Service, said: "I couldn't be prouder of our staff and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly through the hottest days of the year and the busiest period in our history to continue to provide Londoners with care and compassion.

"Despite bringing in more than 400 additional ambulance crews and increasing staffing across our 999 and 111 control rooms, demand has remained exceptionally high this week.

"We have now stood down the critical incident but remain very busy.

"If you're enjoying the sunshine or cheering on England this evening, please stay hydrated, drink responsibly and look after each other."

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