Last weekend the service dealt with a volume of calls more reminiscent of New Year’s Eve

Paramedics at London Ambulance Service (LAS) are calling on all eligible Londoners to get vaccinated against flu – after revealing last month was its busiest November on record.

To help the service care for patients with the most life-threatening emergencies, LAS urging the public to manage simple flu symptoms by seeking advice from their local pharmacy or by using the NHS 111 online service.

LAS received a record number of 999 calls for November, with handlers answering 192,600 calls – over 13,000 more calls compared to the same month last year.

This past weekend, LAS took around 7,500 calls each day – figures normally more typical of New Year’s Eve.

The recent spike in call numbers is due to the combined impact of wintery weather and rising rates of viral infections and respiratory illnesses, including flu, and these are expected to rise further in the weeks ahead.

LAS chief medical officer Dr Fenella Wrigley said: “We are extremely busy and our 999 control rooms are taking a number of calls from people with flu or similar viral illnesses. This week is looking challenging as we try to reach everyone who needs our help as quickly as possible.

“Flu can make you feel very unwell, but most healthy people recover with rest, fluids and products available at your pharmacy to manage symptoms. We need our clinicians to be available to help the people who are more seriously unwell with flu or other conditions.

“Most colds and flu are caused by viruses, so a good place to get advice is your local pharmacy. If you’re still worried after talking to your pharmacist you can contact the 111 service for further advice, but please use 111 online in the first instance.

“I strongly urge all eligible people to get a flu vaccination. The vaccine is available to anyone aged 65 or over, those caring for the elderly or living with someone with a weakened immune system, those with long term health conditions or who are pregnant.

“In addition, a large number of children and young people are eligible and I would strongly recommend that they get vaccinated as this will help to reduce transmission.”

LAS has produced a winter plan for this year which includes putting 460 ambulances out on the road during peak demand, ensuring it has more clinicians providing advice, supporting and treating patients over the phone to avoid busy emergency departments, and working closely with hospitals to reduce delays handing over patients who have been taken to emergency departments, freeing up ambulance crews for the next 999 call.

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