DESPITE it being the busiest night of the year, 999 calls were answered and cases responded to more quickly than ever before in the West Midlands.
On New Year’s Eve night, calls were answered in just one second on average.
The Trust’s two control rooms in Brierley Hill and Stafford saw a 3.5 per cent increase in the number of calls between 7pm on New Year’s Eve and 6am on New Year’s Day but months of planning and preparation meant calls were answered quickly.
The Trust received 2,140 calls during that time, compared to 2,068 last year, though there was a fall in the number of calls received on New Year’s Day, down to 4,152 in 2019 compared to 4,442 12 months earlier.
Planning for the festive period started in the summer and staffing levels were maximised for New Year’s Eve.
There were more staff and ambulances on the roads than ever before to ensure patients received the highest standard of care possible.
