Hato Hone St John has experienced its busiest day ever after receiving 2,562 emergency calls through 111 on Saturday. The number was 34% higher than the usual 1,900 calls. St John activated its major incident response because demand was unusually high. The ambulance service said there was no immediate evidence that emergency departments had been badly affected.
Saturday was the third time in the same week that St John had broken its daily call record. It received 2,404 calls on Monday and 2,454 on Thursday. At the busiest times, emergency call handlers were answering a call every 20 seconds. The service had received 15,268 calls by 2pm on Sunday, putting it close to breaking its weekly record.
St John said cold weather and winter illnesses were likely contributing to the increase. Ambulance director Doug Gallagher said staff were continuing to respond safely to people with the most serious conditions. However, some people with less urgent problems, such as broken bones, had experienced long waits. Ambulance staff can sometimes assess and treat suitable patients at home or help them find another health service.
People were reminded to call 111 immediately for serious emergencies, such as chest pain, breathing problems or when someone cannot be woken. St John said its major incident response would help teams manage ambulances and resources across the country. Health New Zealand said emergency departments were also busy, as is usual during winter, but there was no immediate evidence that hospital capacity had been affected by the increase in ambulance calls. People were also encouraged to seek medical advice early when they become unwell.
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