Record number of ambulance calls during heatwave
BBCAmbulance workers are dealing with "unsustainable" levels of activity as they deal with record numbers of calls during the heatwave, service bosses say.
South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) received 3,941 calls across the region on Wednesday, which was nine more than its previous record set during May's heatwave.
Wayne Darch, SWASFT's operations director, said the levels were unprecedented and included a number of calls about sunburn as a weather warning for extreme heat remained active in parts of the South West.
He said paramedics were prioritising the sickest patients and urged people to "really consider if they needed help now" before calling 999.
"That level of activity is unsustainable for us," Darch said.
"Clearly we have to prioritise our sickest patients and ensure our resources get to those sickest patients as quickly as possible.
"That does mean that other patients who might not be as sick as other patients are having to wait slightly longer for us to respond to."
'Incredible work'
Darch said the number of calls on Wednesday was about 1,000 more compared to the same day in 2025 and included a significant increase in calls for people who had fallen, had breathing difficulties and had fainted or become unconscious.
He said general advice for people during heatwaves included drinking plenty of water and staying out of the sun during the hottest times.
Darch also encouraged people to listen to call handlers if they are told they should seek help from another resource such as 111 or community pharmacists as this would help paramedics get to patients most in need.
"Our staff are working incredibly hard in this extreme heat and I'd just like to say a massive thank you to them," he said.
"They're doing incredible work to look after the population of the South West and to care for their and our communities."
Trade union Unison, which represents a number of SWASFT workers, said emergency responders were "facing major challenges" during the extreme heat.
Sharan Bandesha, Unison's national ambulance officer, said paramedics still needed to answer emergency calls and employers should make sure workplaces adapt to the weather.
"That includes ensuring ambulance vehicles are serviced properly to maintain a comfortable temperature, providing drinking water and hydration breaks, and adapting working arrangements," she added.