999 service is 'extremely busy' as Wexham Park hospital faces high pressure

[Cookham Webmaster]

People in Berkshire are being urged to only call 999 in life-threatening emergencies as the ambulance service is 'extremely busy'. South Central Ambulance Service said there may be delays responding to less urgent calls.

The ambulance service, which covers Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire, has asked people to only use 999 for incidents including 'loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, breathing difficulties, persistent and severe chest pain, symptoms of heart attack or stroke'. Options for non-emergency treatment include urgent treatment centres and walk-in centres.

Urgent treatment centres and walk-in centres are open across our region that can help with fractures, sprains, eye injuries, minor head injuries, cuts that need stitches, minor burns and plenty of other urgent - but not emergency - problems.

Hospitals are also reporting pressure. A&E departments at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough and Frimley Park Hospital are facing 'unprecedented pressure'.