Every minute counts when there’s a life-threatening emergency, and the actions you take to help during those first few moments can have a major impact on the patient’s chances of recovery.
Calling 999 in a life-threatening emergency is something that you hope you never have to do; and equally knowing who to call if it’s not life-threatening can ensure that the ambulance is available for the next patient who needs it.
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) has produced this information card to help you make the right choice if you, or a loved one, need help or come across someone else who does.
Andrew Eales, a public governor at NEAS, has the responsibility of representing his local community at governor meetings, challenging the board of directors and holding non-executives to account for the performance of the Board.
On sharing this information, he said: “I am not responsible for operations or day-to-day decisions at the ambulance service, but I am keen to ensure that this community feels assured of what to do if there is an emergency.”
NEAS is one of fastest responding ambulance services in the country; reaching potentially life-threatening calls, on average, in less than seven minutes; and getting to seriously ill patients, on average, in just over 20 minutes.
NEAS covers an area of 3,200 square miles from the Scottish border to North Yorkshire, serving a population of more than 2.7 million people. The service answered more than 1.4m calls to 999 and NHS111 last year, as well as transporting non-emergency patients to appointments, delivering training and providing medical support at events.
Andrew Eales
Public Governor, Durham Area.
Useful Contact Information
Website: www.neas.nhs.uk
Headquarters: 0191 430 2000
Public relations: publicrelations@neas.nhs.uk
Recruitment: recruitment@neas.nhs.uk
Volunteer: volunteer.department@neas.nhs.uk
Equality: diversity@neas.nhs.uk
Visit: yourviews@neas.nhs.uk
Membership: members@neas.nhs.uk
Purchase defibrillator or book first aid course:
commercial.training@neas.nhs.uk
To view patient information pages:
www.neas.nhs.uk/patient-info.aspx
Call 999 – Life Threatening Emergency
Always call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Examples of medical emergencies include, but are not limited to: Chest pain, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, severe loss of blood, severe burns or scalds, choking, fitting or concussion, drowning, severe allergic reaction.
When it’s less urgent call 111
You should use this service if you need urgent medical help or advice, but it’s not life-threatening. You can access the service online via www.111.nhs.uk or call 111.
Examples of urgent care needs include: You need medical help fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency; You think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service; You don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP to call, you require health information.