Ambulance service has busiest ever New Year
In the first three hours of 2010, the Service received 1,269 '999' calls, about the same number received in the first five hours of New Year's Day 2009.
The number of '999' calls steadily increased toward midnight but it was at the start of the New Year that the numbers began to increase, with the busiest time from midnight until 3am when a call was received, on average, every nine seconds.
However, not every call was a genuine emergency with a number of hoax calls from children and bizarre calls from adults.
Just after midnight, the Service received a call to attend a flat in Rowley Regis. The caller stated the patient 'has refused a drink which is not like him. He is ill'.
Shortly before 1.35am, a woman in Wolverhampton called WMAS informing them that a man had slipped on ice and hurt his wrist. She said she had called for an ambulance because she did not want to drive him to hospital as it was New Year's Eve.
Later in the early hours the Service was called to an address in Erdington with the caller claiming the patient had a hand injury, but then said he was concussed.
With a rapid response car assigned and on its way, it transpired that the patient wanted help as he had been locked out of the house.
Around the same time two men in Shipston-on-Stour called while walking home, saying they were cold and couldn't get a taxi.
Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said: "The way in which the Service dealt with the very significant increase in the number of 999 calls is a tribute to all the officers and staff of West Midlands Ambulance Service.
"The public should be very proud of all the staff and volunteers who have given up their night to ensure the safety of everyone who spent the night celebrating the coming of the New Year."
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