This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26611863
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance watch: a day in the life of three emergency call centres | Ambulance watch: a day in the life of three emergency call centres |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| What happens after you dial 999 and ask for the ambulance service? | What happens after you dial 999 and ask for the ambulance service? |
| Do you get sent an ambulance to take you directly to hospital with the blue lights flashing, or are you asked to hang up and contact your GP instead? | Do you get sent an ambulance to take you directly to hospital with the blue lights flashing, or are you asked to hang up and contact your GP instead? |
| Meet the individuals who have to make these decisions. | Meet the individuals who have to make these decisions. |
| On Tuesday we are following the twitter streams of three emergency call centres - North West, West Midlands and East of England ambulance services - to find out. | |
| At the West Midlands service, WMAS @OFFICIALWMAS tweets: These calls are coming in thick and fast - and we are only following one of the call-takers on duty today. | |
| WMAS @OFFICIALWMAS adds: At 1pm we have taken 1,092 calls since midnight. Falls have accounted for a significant number of calls this morning, there have also been a lot of calls about breathing problems. | |
| For instance, WMAS takes a call from a bus passenger - another passenger has collapsed. | |
| But the caller doesn't know what road they are on. | |
| Sixty seconds later, Jess, the call handler, has managed to get the road name. Help is on its way. But the patient isn't breathing so Jess then begins giving CPR instructions over the phone. | |
| Within minutes, the ambulance has arrived to take over and there the telephone call ends. | |
| All the services are getting ready for a busy lunchtime, anticipating an increase in calls from GPs who are out making home visits at this time. | |
| To follow the action live, follow #team999. | To follow the action live, follow #team999. |
| We'll bring you updates throughout the day on our Facebook page BBC News #nhswinter. |